Retail inflation softens to 10-month low of 3.69% in August

14 Sep 2018 Evaluate

Continuing declining trend for the second straight month, India’s retail inflation based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) softened to a 10-month low of 3.69% in the month of August 2018, as compared to 4.17% in previous month (July), mainly on the back of easing prices of fruits, vegetables and other food items. This was below the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) target of 4%. The previous low for CPI inflation was in October 2017, when it stood at 3.58%. Besides, consumer food price inflation, a metric to gauge changes in monthly kitchen costs, also eased to 0.29% in August 2018, compared with 1.52% rise in August 2017 and 1.30% in July 2018.

As per the data of the Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme, the CPI (Rural, Urban, Combined) on Base2012=100 for August 2018, stood at 3.41%, 3.99% and 3.69% respectively, compared to 3.22% , 3.35% and 3.28% respectively in August 2017. The index value of CPI for combined stood at 140.4. The data also showed that Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) for all India Rural and Urban for August 2018 stood at 1.22% and (-) 1.21%, respectively, compared to 1.38% and 1.67%, respectively in August 2017. The index value of CFPI for combined stood at 140.5 for the month of August.

According to the data, inflation of food and beverages eased to 0.85% in August 2018 from 1.73% in July 2018. Within the food items, the inflation eased for vegetables to (-) 7.00%, fruits 3.57%, prepared meals, snacks, sweets etc 4.16%, milk and products 2.66%, egg 6.96% and spices 2.88%. On the other hand, the inflation rose for meat and fish to 3.21% pulses and products (-) 7.76% and oils and fats 3.47% in August 2018. The inflation for housing eased to 7.59%, while that for miscellaneous items dipped to 5.52% in August 2018. The inflation for clothing and footwear was lower at 4.88%. There was a moderate increase in inflation in the fuel and light segment; it rose to 8.47% in August compared to about 8% in July.

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