Inflation eases to its lowest since 2009 at 4.89% in April

14 May 2013 Evaluate

In a big surprise, the annual rate of inflation, based on monthly WPI, slowed down to its lowest since 2009 at 4.89% (Provisional) for the month of April, 2013 (over April, 2012) as compared to 5.96% (Provisional) for the previous month and 7.50% during the corresponding month of the previous year. Build up inflation in the financial year so far, was 0.53% compared to a build up of 1.55% in the corresponding period of the previous year. However in a disappointment, February inflation figures were revised upward to 7.28% from 6.84%.

Manufactured products, which carry weight of 64.97% in the index, rose by 0.2% to 148.7 (Provisional) from 148.4 (Provisional) for the previous month. The index for 'Food Products' group rose by 0.5% to 165.8 (Provisional) from 164.9 (Provisional) for the previous month. The index of Fuel & Power, which has weight of 14.91%, declined by 0.7% to 194.6 (Provisional) from 195.9 (Provisional) for the previous month due to lower price of aviation turbine fuel (6%), petrol and furnace oil (2% each), lpg(1%).  However, the price of bitumen (1%) moved up.

The index of Primary Articles, having weight of 20.12% too rose by 2.0% to 228.00 (Provisional) from 223.6 (Provisional) for the previous month. The index for 'Non-Food Articles' group rose by 1.4% to 209.7 (Provisional) from 206.9 (Provisional) for the previous month, while the index for 'Minerals' group declined by 0.7% to 355.0 (Provisional) from 357.4 (Provisional) for the previous month.

However, it remains to be noted that besides the sharp uptick of February inflation figures, the widening divergence between WPI and CPI remains the matter of concern. Annual rate of inflation, based on the consumer prices index (CPI), declining for second straight month, finally came in single digit at 9.39% in April, as against 10.39% seen in the previous month.

Meanwhile, C Rangarajan, chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council termed the inflation data as reassuring, and said that April WPI has now moved into a “Comfort Zone.” “RBI will have room to cut interest rates further if inflation eases”.

The Reserve Bank of India, so far, has obliged the street with rate cuts for three times, with the latest being the one on May 3. Drawing comfort from 3-year low inflation, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in its ‘Monetary Policy Statement 2013-14’, reduced repo rate by 25 basis points from 7.5% to 7.25% with immediate effect, its lowest since May 2011.

© 2025 The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. MoneyWorks4Me ® is a registered trademark of The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd.

×