Inflation inches higher...Food inflation jumps

India's inflation, as measured by the wholesale price index (WPI), stood at 8.62% in September 2010 as against 8.51% in August 2010, data released by the Government showed. It was at 1.09% in the same month last year. Consensus expectations were for a reading of around 8.4-8.5%. The official WPI for All Commodities for September 2010 rose by 0.6% to 141.1 from 140.3 in the previous month, the Commerce & Industry Ministry said. Build up in inflation in the financial year so far has been 3.90% compared to a build up of 5.44% in the corresponding period of the previous year. The Government revised July inflation data to 10.31% from 9.8% estimated earlier. The final WPI for the month stood at 263.8 compared to 263.3 earlier.



Annual inflation in the Primary Articles space stood at 17.45% in Sept. 2010 versus 15.76% in August 2010. It was at 10.63% in Sept. 2009. The index for this major group rose by 1.5% to 179.7. Inflation in the crucial Food Articles group was at 15.71% in Sept. 2010 as against 13.92% in Sept. 2009. The index for this group rose by 1.6% to 179.0 from 176.2 in the previous month. Point-to-point inflation in the Fuel & Power group was at 11.06% in Sept. 2010 from 12.55% in August 2010. It was at (-)8.09% in the same month of last year. The index for this group declined by 0.3% to 147.6. Inflation in the Manufactured Products group stood at 4.59% in Sept. 2010 versus 4.78% in August 2010. It was at 0.16% in Sept. 2009. The index for this group rose by 0.3% to 127.6