Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Commerce & Industry

15-April-2011 12:19 IST

Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices in India (Base: 2004-05=100) Review for the month of March, 2011

The official Wholesale Price Index for ‘All Commodities’ (Base: 2004-05=100) for the month of March, 2011 rose by 1.4 percent to 148.0 (Provisional) from 146.0 (Provisional) for the previous month.

INFLATION

The annual rate of inflation, based on monthly WPI, stood at 8.98% (Provisional) for the month of March, 2011 (over March, 2010) as compared to 8.31% (Provisional) for the previous month and 10.23% during the corresponding month of the previous year. Build up inflation in the financial year so far was 8.98 % compared to a build up of 10.23% in the corresponding period of the previous year. Inflation for important commodities / commodity groups is indicated in Annex-1.

The movement of the index for the various commodity groups is summarized below:-

PRIMARY ARTICLES (Weight 20.12%)

The index for this major group declined by 0.2 percent to 187.4 (Provisional) from 187.8 (Provisional) for the previous month.  The groups and items for which the index showed variations during the month are as follows:-

The index for 'Food Articles' group declined by 0.9 percent to 179.1 (Provisional) from 180.8  (Provisional) for the previous month due to lower prices of condiments & spices (8%), tea (5%),      mutton (3%), gram, moong, egg and masur (2% each) and milk, arhar, wheat, barley and ragi (1% each). However, the prices of maize (10%), coffee (3%) and bajra, fish-marine and poultry chicken (1% each) moved up.

The index for 'Non-Food Articles' group rose by 2.2 percent to 189.2 (Provisional) from 185.1  (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of logs & timber (16%), gaur seed (13%),      raw cotton (12%), groundnut seed (7%), fodder and raw jute (4% each), niger seed (3%), sugarcane (2 %) and cotton seed (1%).  However, the prices of raw silk (21%), flowers (20%), castor seed (10%), sunflower (7%), raw rubber (4%), gingelly seed (3%), hides(raw), mesta and rape & mustard seed (2% each) and coir fibre, copra and linseed (1% each) declined.

The index for 'Minerals' group declined by 0.4 percent to 259.9 (Provisional) from 261.0 (Provisional) for the previous month due to lower prices of zinc concentrate (12%) and steatite and copper ore (7% each).  However, the prices of sillimanite (6%) and iron ore (1%) moved up.

FUEL & POWER (Weight 14.91%)

The index for this major group rose by 3.9 percent to 158.2 (Provisional) from 152.3  (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of coking coal (33%), non-coking coal (27%), lignite (17%),      aviation turbine fuel (13%), furnace oil (11%),  naphtha (8%), light diesel oil (5%) and bitumen (2%).

MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS (Weight 64.97%)

The index for this major group rose by 1.4 percent to 133.4 (Provisional) from 131.6 (Provisional) for the previous month. The groups and items for which the index showed variations during the month are as follows:-

The index for 'Food Products' group rose by 0.3 percent to 145.1 (Provisional) from 144.6 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of rice bran oil (11%),  khandsari (8%), cotton seed oil cake (7%), cashew kernel, cotton seed oil, mixed spices and cakes & muffins (5% each), ice cream, papad and powder milk (4% each), bagasse (3%), cashew nut (roasted), canned meat, molasses and palm oil (2% each) and canned fish, ghee, gingelly oil, bread & buns, gola (cattle feed) and readymade / instant food powder (1% each).  However, the prices of tea leaf (unblended) (11%), processed prawn (8%), vegetables seeds (5%), tea dust (blended) (4%), groundnut oil cake, rice bran extraction and sugar confectionary (3% each), vanaspati, gur, mustard oil cake and groundnut oil (2% each) and sunflower oil and copra oil (1% each) declined.

The index for 'Beverages, Tobacco & Tobacco Products' group rose by 1.3 percent to 152.4 (Provisional) from 150.5 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of chewing tobacco and cigarette (7% each), zarda (3%), aerated water (all types) (2%) and IMFL-blended, non-alcoholic beverages (all types) and toddy (or taddy) (1% each).  However, the prices of dried tobacco (9%), beer (4%) and soft drink concentrates (3%) declined.

The index for 'Textiles' group rose by 4.6 percent to 129.4 (Provisional) from 123.7 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of finished / processed  cotton  yarn (knitted) (18%), cotton yarn  (bleached) (14%), cotton linters and jute sacking cloth (11% each), cotton yarn (dyed) (10%), cotton shirting, furnishing cloth, cotton cloth finished / processed, woollen cardigans / sweaters, acrylic yarn and cotton textiles dyed / printed (9% each), cotton yarn unbleached, terry towel and finished / processed cotton yarn (not knitted) (8% each), cotton pillow cover, cotton under garments and polyethylene fabrics (7% each), blankets, polyester yarn and gunny bags (non laminated) (6% each), cotton towel cloth, bed cover & bed sheet, woollen  shawls and cotton children suits (5% each), gunny and hessian cloth, viscose staple fibre and coir mats & matting (4% each), jute sacking bag, polyester staple fibre and mixed  fabrics (3% each), synthetic yarn,  viscose yarn and tyre cord fabric (2% each) and synthetic suitings, nylon yarn, woollen yarn, grey cloth (bleached / unbleached), woollen carpets and woollen cloth (1% each).  However, the prices of cotton trousers / pants (10%), woollen hosiery goods (5%), jute yarn, terene garments, acrylic fibre and cotton knitted fabrics (2% each) declined.

The index for ‘Wood & Wood Products' group rose by 1.0 percent to 151.1 (Provisional) from 149.6 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of wooden crates & packing box (19%),     wooden almirah / cabinets / cupboard (6%), processed / sized wood cutting (4%), insulation board (2%) and veneer wood (1%).  However, the prices of sawn timber posts / squares (3%) and plywood board (1%) declined.

The index for 'Paper & Paper Products' group rose by 1.0 percent to 128.1 (Provisional) from 126.8 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of paper cone & tube (12%), paper rolls (6%), books / periodicals / journals (3%), paper pulp, newsprint, printing and writing paper and corrugated sheet boxes (2% each) and bristle paper board, cream laid woven paper and computer stationery (1% each).  However, the prices of card board (6%), paper cartons / boxes (4%) and laminated paper and newspaper (1% each) declined.

The index for 'Leather & Leather Products' group declined by 0.2 percent to 123.6 (Provisional) from 123.9 (Provisional) for the previous month due to lower prices of leather harness goods (5%), foot wear / safety boot and leather  gloves (4% each), leather shoe upper (2%) and vegetable  tanned  leather (1%).  However, the prices of leather handbags / wallets (4%), crome tanned leather (3%), leather garments & jackets and leather bags (2% each) and leather sole (1 %) moved up.

The index for 'Rubber & Plastic Products' group rose by 1.1 percent to 131.1 (Provisional) from 129.7 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of synthetic rubber compound (20 %), polyester chips (16%), rubber brakes (9%), plastic bottles (7%), rubber  foot wear (5%), HDPE  woven fabric, plastic films & sheets, rubber components & parts and cycle /cycle rickshaw tyre (3% each), plastic / PVC chappals and tooth brush (2% each) and foot ball, cycle / rickshaw tube, plastic / LDPE / polythene bag, cab / car tyre, plastic / PVC pipe and plastic rolls (1% each).  However, the prices of polythene / plastic granules (6%), plastic / PVC suitcases and HDPE woven sacks (5% each), rubber moulded goods (4%), plastic / PVC shoes and rigid PVC (2% each) and polyester film and plastic containers (1% each) declined.

The index for 'Chemicals & Chemical Products' group rose by 1.6 percent to 128.3 (Provisional) from 126.3 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of acid (organic) and fatty alcohol (16% each), hydrogen peroxide (12%), ice block / cube (non edible) (11%),  synthetic rubber (10%),  vegetable starch (9%), non-cyclic compound (8%),  formaldehyde, face / body powder and carbon di-sulphide (6% each), castor oil, organic manure, fatty acid, cream / moisturizer, bleaching powder, yeast used in food industry and alumina & aluminium salt and olio resin & gelatin (5% each), adhesive &  gum, chlorine, titanium dioxide and washing soap (4% each), acetic acid & its derivetives, phenol or phenol extract, pigment & pigment intermediates, di-ammonium phosphate, wax, thermocol and ink (3% each), toilet soap, nitrogen (gas / liquid), sodium salt, washing powder, glycol, additives, floor cleaners, alcohol &  mixture and photographic goods (2% each) and lime & calcium carbonate, carbon dioxide gas, di-calcium phosphate, polymer products, explosives, petrochemical building blocks, paints, hydrogen, paracetamol / analgesic, polymers, oxygen, caustic soda & soda ash, dye & dye intermediates and carbon & it's compound (1% each).  However, the prices of safety matches / match box and lacquer & varnishes (6% each), , zinc oxide, ammonia (gas / liquid), polyol and menthol (4% each), turpentine oil and other inorganic chemicals (3% each), perfume / scent, naphthalene / aniline and weedicides (2% each) and ammonium sulphate, antibiotics and rubber chemicals (1% each) declined.

The index for 'Non-Metallic Mineral Products' group rose by 1.7 percent to 147.6 (Provisional) from 145.1 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of hume pipes & spun pipes (6%), concrete poles & posts, railway sleeper and filter elements (5% each), bricks & tiles (4%), glass bottles & bottle ware (3%), lime, grey cement and slag cement (2% each) and white cement (1%).  However, the prices of graphite rods and toughened glass (3% each), asbestos corrugated sheet (2%) and ophthalmic lens (1%) declined.

The index for 'Basic Metals, Alloys & Metal Products' group rose by 1.5 percent to 140.9 (Provisional) from 138.8 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of silver and nuts / bolts / screw / washers (10% each), CRC (9%), metal moulds and dyes (8%), billets and pencil ingots (7% each), wire rods (6%), welding rods (5%), rounds, steel structures and fabricated metal products (4% each), chain and aluminium ingots (3% each), aluminium foil / foil bag, GP / GC sheets, angles, cylinder liners, welded pipe, rebars, steel rods and zinc (2% each) and gold & gold ornaments, joist & beams, HRC, sponge iron, pipes / tubes / rods / strips, aluminium wire, melting scrap, cylinder, steel castings, iron castings,  plates and non-ferrous casting & forging (1% each).  However, the prices of sheets (7%), aluminium casting and steel frames (4% each), steel balls, pig iron and aluminium seals (3% each), pressure cooker (2%) and safety helmet, die forging & stamping, ferro chrome and metal containers (1% each) declined.

The index for 'Machinery & Machine Tools' group rose by  0.3 percent to 122.4 (Provisional) from 122.0 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of loader (7%), pneumatic  tools, drilling machines and sprinkler (6% each), gear cutting machines,  kit-kat / fuse / fuse wire, oil mill machinery, rice mill machinery, dish antenna and sewing machines (5% each),  electrical pumps and microwave oven (4% each), batteries and drive equipment (3% each), food / beverages / tobacco processing machinery, electric generators, air break switches / circuit breaker and electric motors (2% each) and electric motor starters, electronic PCB / micro circuit, electrical wires, thresher, boiler & accessories, computers, ball / roller bearing, mining / quarrying / metallurgical machinery / part,  heating elements, relay / contacter, conductor, converter / inverter, insulators, lamps, grinding / wet coffee machinery, lifts, transformer and grinding wheels (1% each).  However, the prices of cranes (14%), battery dry cells (10%), separators & driers (8%), compressors and other electronics items (4% each), air conditioners, fans, electrical stamping lamination and fibre optic cable (3% each), control equipments, electric switch gears, watches,  refrigerators and textile machinery (2% each) and cutting machine,  electric switches, TV accessories, UPS / stabilizer, TV sets, engines, amplifier and PVC insulated cable (1% each) declined.

The index for 'Transport, Equipment & Parts' group rose by 0.9 percent to 122.0 (Provisional) from 120.9 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of crankshafts (14%), axle (12%), bi-cycles (9%), piston & compressor (7%), motor cycle / scooter / moped (4%), railway  axle & wheel, clutch & clutch plates and wheels & parts (3% each), tractors, silencer & damper and gauges (2% each) and trolleys / tanker, gear boxes & parts, suspension, auto rickshaw / tempo / matador and shafts (all kinds) (1% each).  However, the prices of parts of ships/boats etc. (15%), fuel injection equipments (9%), slider (3%), radiator & coolers (2%) and motor vehicles (1%) declined.

FINAL INDEX FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY, 2011 (BASE YEAR: 2004-05=100)

For the month of January, 2011 the final Wholesale Price Index for ‘All Commodities’ (Base: 2004-05=100) stood at 147.4  as compared to 145.9 (Provisional) and annual rate of inflation based on final index stood at 9.35 percent as compared to 8.23 percent (Provisional) reported on 14.03.2011.

Next date of press release: 16/05/2011 for the month of April, 2011,

This press release is available at our home page http://eaindustry.nic.in

Annexure-I

Wholesale Price Index and Rates of Inflation (Base Year: 2004-05=100)

 

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DS

Wholesale price inflation rises, driven by fuel and manufactured product price increases, with primary articles easing. The Wholesale Price Index (base 2004 05=100) rose 1.4 percent to 148.0 in March 2011 (provisional), with the annual WPI based inflation rate at 8.98 percent. Primary Articles fell slightly while Fuel & Power increased substantially (notably coal, aviation turbine fuel and furnace oil). Manufactured Products rose 1.4 percent with significant gains in Textiles, Chemicals and Basic Metals; subgroup movements are detailed in annexures alongside weights and six month trends.