Food, fuel inflation climbs

Food inflation in India inched higher in the third week of August as did inflation for the Fuel group and the Primary Articles group, data released by the Government showed. Inflation for the Food Articles group stood at 10.86% in the week ended August 21 as against 10.05% in the previous week, the Commerce & Industry Ministry data showed. It was at 14.86% in the comparable week last year. The index for Food Articles group rose by 1.8% to 303.3 in the week ended August 21. Inflation for the Primary Articles group also rose to 15.19% from 14.75% in the week ended August 14, the data revealed. It stood at 8.87% during the week ended Aug. 22, 2009. The index for the Primary Articles group rose by 1.4% to 312.5 in the week under review.



Inflation for the Fuel & Power group increased to 12.71% from 12.57% in the preceding week, according to the Commerce Ministry data. It was at (-)8.82% during the corresponding week of the previous year. The index for the Fuel & Power group rose by 0.2% to 386.7. Inflation in the Non-food Articles group inched lower to 21.29% from 22.20% in the preceding week. It was at (-)1.96% in the year-ago period. The index for Non-Food Articles group rose by 0.4% to 291.7. Inflation in the Minerals Group jumped to 47.79% from 45.69% in the week ended August 14. It was at (-)9.36% in the corresponding week of the previous year. The index for 'Minerals' group rose by 1.4% to 867.5.