India's wholesale inflation in February eases to 2.48%

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) slightly eased to 2.48% (provisional) in February from 2.84% (provisional)  in January.  During February last year, it was 5.51%. Build up inflation rate in the financial year so far was 2.30% compared to build up rate of 4.92% in the corresponding period of the previous year, Ministry of Commerce & Industry said in a statement. The index for ‘Food Articles’ group declined by 2.0 percent to 137.8 (provisional) from 140.6 (provisional) for the previous month due to lower price of fruits & vegetables (9%), gram, tea and masur (4% each), rajma and bajra (3% each), egg, fish-marine, peas/chawali, jowar and urad (2% each) and wheat (1%).  However, the price of betel leaves (13%), ragi (3%) and arhar, maize, condiments & spices, coffee, moong, fish-inland, poultry chicken and paddy (1% each) moved up.
 
The index for ‘Non-Food Articles’ group declined by 0.1 percent to 120.6 (provisional) from 120.7 (provisional) for the previous month due to lower price of floriculture (15%), niger seed (5%), raw cotton and linseed (3% each), raw rubber and skins (raw) (2% each) and cotton seed, raw silk, rape & mustard seed and copra (coconut) (1% each).  However, the price of soyabean (11%), hides (raw) (10%), mesta (8%), raw jute (5%), guar seed (4%), raw wool and fodder (2% each) and groundnut seed, castor seed, gingelly seed and sunflower (1% each) moved up. The index for ‘Minerals’ group rose by 0.2 percent to 122.2 (provisional) from 121.9 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of iron ore (3%) and copper concentrate (1%).  However, the price of sillimanite (9%), lead concentrate (4%), manganese ore (3%) and chromite and phosphorite (2% each) declined.
 
The index for ‘Coal’ group rose by 1.2 percent to 122.6 (provisional) from 121.1 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of non-coking coal (2%). The index for ‘Manufacture of Food Products’ group declined by 0.3 percent to 126.4 (provisional) from 126.8 (provisional) for the previous month due to lower price of molasses (16%), processed tea (7%), gram powder (besan) (6%), gur (4%), sugar (3%), butter, manufacture of macaroni, noodles, couscous & similar farinaceous products, powder milk, copra oil,  processing and preserving of fish, crustaceans & molluscs and products thereof and castor oil (2% each) and honey, rapeseed oil, processing & preserving of fruit & vegetables, manufacture of health supplements, instant coffee and ice cream (1% each).
 
However, the price of basmati rice (4%), rice products, bagasse and other meats, preserved/processed (3% each), cotton seed oil and manufacture of prepared animal feeds (2% each) and groundnut oil, rice, non-basmati, palm oil, coffee powder with chicory, spices (including mixed spices), ghee, vanaspati, soyabean oil, sunflower oil, wheat flour (atta) and salt (1% each) moved up.
 
The index for ‘Manufacture of Beverages’ group declined by 0.5 percent to 119.3 (provisional) from 119.9 (provisional) for the previous month due to lower price of country liquor (2%) and bottled mineral water, rectified spirit, aerated drinks/soft drinks (incl. soft drink concentrates) and wine (1% each).
 
The index for ‘Manufacture of Tobacco Products’ group rose by 0.9 percent to 152.7 (provisional) from 151.3 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of cigarette (2%) and biri (1%).
 
The index for ‘Manufacture of Textiles’ group rose by 0.6 percent to 113.7 (provisional) from 113.0 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of weaving & finishing of textiles, cotton yarn, synthetic yarn and manufacture of made-up textile articles, except apparel (1% each).  However, the price of manufacture of other textiles (1%) declined.
 
The index for ‘Manufacture of Wearing Apparel’ group rose by 0.4 percent to 139.0 (provisional) from 138.5 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of men/boys suits, coats and jackets and babies garments, knitted (1% each).
 
The index for ‘Manufacture of Leather and Related Products’ group rose by 0.7 percent to 121.6 (provisional) from 120.7 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of canvas shoes (3%), belt & other articles of leather (2%) and gloves of leather, leather shoe, travel goods, handbags, office bags, etc. and harness, saddles & other related items (1% each).  However, the price of vegetable tanned leather and plastic/pvc chappals (1% each) declined.
 
The index for ‘Manufacture of Wood and of  Products of Wood and Cork ‘ group rose by 0.1 percent to 130.9 (provisional) from 130.8 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of wooden splint (2%) and lamination wooden sheets/veneer sheets and wooden box/crate (1% each).  However, the price of plywood block boards, wooden block-compressed or not and wooden panel (1% each) declined.
 
The index for ‘Manufacture of Paper and Paper Products’ group declined by 1.2 percent to 120.0 (provisional) from 121.4 (provisional) for the previous month due to lower price of corrugated sheet box (9%), pulp board (5%) and map litho paper, tissue paper, paper carton/box, duplex paper, base paper and card board (1% each). 
 
However, the price of hard board (5%), newsprint (3%), paper for printing & writing, laminated paper and bristle paper board (2% each) and press board, poster paper, corrugated paper board and kraft paper (1% each) moved up.
 
The index for ‘Printing and Reproduction of Recorded Media ‘ group declined by 0.8 percent to 143.5 (provisional) from 144.6 (provisional) for the previous month due to lower price of printed labels/posters/calendars (3%), printed form & schedule (2%) and printed books (1%).  However, the price of hologram (3d) (3%) and newspaper (1%) moved up.
 
The index for ‘Manufacture of Chemicals and Chemical Products’ group rose by 1.1 percent to 115.0 (provisional) from 113.8 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of hydrogen peroxide (13%), phthalic anhydride (9%), di- ammonium phosphate (6%), polyester film(metalized) and aromatic chemicals (5% each), amine, monoethyl glycol, creams & lotions for external application and ammonium phosphate (4% each), phosphoric acid, liquid air & other gaseous products, poly propylene (pp), explosive, polystyrene, expandable, perfume/scent and paint (3% each), carbon black, fungicide, liquid, varnish (all types), dye stuff/dyes incl. dye intermediates & pigments/colours, adhesive excluding gum, plasticizer, polyethylene, xlpe compound, nitrogenous fertilizer, others and additive (2% each) and caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), ethyl acetate, aniline (including pna, ona, ocpna), ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate, alkyl benzene, organic surface active agent, foundry chemical, detergent cake, washing soap cake/bar/powder, poly vinyl chloride (pvc), fatty acid, shampoo, printing ink, organic solvent, ethylene oxide, rubber chemicals and mixed fertilizer (1% each).
 
However, the price of oleoresin (8%), sulphuric acid and menthol (6% each), sodium silicate (3%), nitric acid, toilet soap and gelatine (2% each) and camphor, acrylic fibre and viscose staple fibre (1% each) declined.