Food inflation above double-digit figure due to festive demand: FM

03 Nov 2011 Evaluate

Commenting on the nine-month high weekly food inflation numbers, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said, food inflation is still going high. It is dangerously above double-digit figure. India’s weekly food inflation measured by Wholesale Price Index (WPI) jumped to 12.21% for week ended on October 22 from last week.

However, as per finance minister, the surge in prices of food times was mainly on account of increased demand in the current festive season. 'This (high food inflation) is the effect of festive season demand. November onwards, the trend for remaining four months (of the fiscal) would be available,' Mukherjee said.

The finance minister termed this price situation as a matter of grave concern, as food inflation has been in double digits for three consecutive weeks. It was 11.43% and 10.6% during week ended on October 15 and on October 8 respectively. 

As per the commerce ministry data, increase in food prices has been mainly because of surge in prices of vegetables, pulses, fruits and milk, putting. For the week under observation, inflation in overall primary article group also increased. It stood at 12.08% for week ending October 22 from 11.75% in the last week.  

However, Mukherjee said, while food prices are going up, there has been some decline in non-food primary articles. The inflation in non-food articles which includes fibres, oil seeds and minerals stood at 6.43% for week ended on October 22 compared to 7.67% in last week. 

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