The official Wholesale Price Index for ‘All Commodities’ (Base: 2004-05 = 100) for the month April, 2012 rose by 2.1 percent to 163.1 (Provisional) from 159.8 (Provisional) for the previous month.

 

INFLATION

 

The annual rate of inflation, based on monthly WPI, stood at 7.23% (Provisional) for the month of April, 2012 (over April, 2011) as compared to 6.89% (Provisional) for the previous month and 9.74% during the corresponding month of the previous year. Build up inflation in the financial year so far was 2.07% compared to a build up of 1.74% in the corresponding period of the previous year.

 

Inflation for important commodities / commodity groups is indicated in Annex-1 and Annex-II.

The movement of the index for the various commodity groups is summarized below:-

 

PRIMARY ARTICLES (Weight 20.12%)

 

The index for this major group rose by 4.7 percent to 215.9 (Provisional) from 206.3 (Provisional) for the previous month. The groups and items for which the index showed variations during the month are as follows:-

 

The index for ‘Food Articles’ group rose by 4.9 percent to 206.4 (Provisional) from 196.8 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of fruits & vegetables (19%), barley (5%),  tea  (4%), masur, maize and      bajra (3% each) and ragi and wheat (2% each) and fish-marine, gram, rice and milk (1% each).  However, the prices of coffee (8%), egg (4%), condiments & spices and poultry chicken (3% each), urad (2%) and pork (1%),      arhar and jowar (1% each) declined.

 

The index for ‘Non-Food Articles’ group rose by 3.3 percent to 195.3 (Provisional) from 189.1 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of gaur seed (24%), soyabean (13%), gingelly seed (8%), raw silk and rape & mustard seed (6% each), niger seed (5%), mesta, fodder and cotton seed (3% each), linseed, raw rubber,      safflower  and groundnut seed (2% each) and raw cotton and sunflower (1% each).  However, the prices of      flowers (12%), copra (5%), castor seed (4%) and raw jute (2%) declined.

 

The index for ‘Minerals’ group rose by 5.6 percent to 362.1 (Provisional) from 343.0 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of gypsum (18%), copper ore (12%), crude petroleum (9%), steatite (6%) and chromite, sillimanite and magnesite (1% each).  However, the prices of zinc concentrate (5%), barytes (4%) and manganese ore and iron ore (2% each) declined.

 

FUEL & POWER (Weight 14.91%)

 

The index for this major group rose by 1.8 percent to 177.1 (Provisional) from 174.0 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of non-coking coal (33%), furnace oil and aviation turbine fuel (4% each),      naphtha (3%), light diesel oil (2%) and lpg (1%).  However, the prices of coking coal (4%) and bitumen (1%) declined.

 

MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS (Weight 64.97%)

 

The index for this major group rose by 1.0 percent to 143.6 (Provisional) from 142.2 (Provisional) for the previous month. The groups and items for which the index showed variations during the month are as follows:-

 

The index for ‘Food Products’ group rose by 1.3 percent to 155.7 (Provisional) from 153.7 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of tea leaf (blended) (9%), rice bran oil, oil cakes and groundnut oil (4% each), gingelly oil, gur and mustard & rapeseed oil (3% each), soyabean oil, palm oil, sooji, gola and tea leaf (unblended) (2% each) and sugar confectionary, cotton seed oil, khandsari, sunflower oil, maida, mixed spices and ghee (1% each).  However, the prices of  processed prawn (5%), copra oil (4%), coffee powder and  tea dust (blended) (2% each) and tea dust (unblended) and canned fish (1% each) declined.

 

The index for ‘Beverages, Tobacco & Tobacco Products’ group rose by 1.6 percent to 169.8 (Provisional) from 167.2 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of cigarette (5%), zarda (2%) and bidi and dried tobacco (1% each).

 

The index for ‘Textiles’ group rose by 0.2 percent to 128.2 (Provisional) from 128.0 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of gunny and hessian cloth, jute sacking bag and cotton yarn (1% each).  However, the prices of tyre cord fabric (2%) declined.

 

The index for ‘Wood & Wood Products’ group rose by 1.6 percent to 165.2 (Provisional) from 162.6 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of timber / wooden planks (5%).

 

The index for ‘Paper & Paper Products’ group declined by 0.5 percent to 132.6 (Provisional) from 133.2 (Provisional) for the previous month due to lower prices of newspaper (9%) and books/ periodicals/ journals      (2%).  However, the prices of paper rolls (2%) and corrugated sheet boxes, maplitho paper, printing and writing paper and laminated paper (1% each) moved up.

 

The index for ‘Leather & Leather Products’ group rose by 0.6 percent to 132.0 (Provisional) from 131.2 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of leathers and leather footwear (1% each).

 

The index for ‘Rubber & Plastic Products’ group rose by 0.6 percent to 135.3 (Provisional) from 134.5 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of plastic products (1%).

 

The index for ‘Chemicals & Chemical Products’ group rose by 0.5 percent to 139.6 (Provisional) from 138.9 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of paints (4%),  antacid and  digestive preparations       and synthetic resin (3% each), washing soap and polymers (2% each) and photographic goods, organic manure,     glycol, washing powder, toilet soap, hair / body oils, antibiotics, di ammonium phosphate, ayurvedic medicines,     explosives and pigment & pigment intermediates (1% each).  However, the prices of adhesive &  gum and basic organic chemicals (1% each) declined.

 

The index for ‘Non-Metallic Mineral Products’ group rose by 2.3 percent to 160.3 (Provisional) from 156.7 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of grey cement and asbestos corrugated sheet (4% each) and railway sleeper, white cement, lime and marbles (1% each).

 

The index for ‘Basic Metals, Alloys & Metal Products’ group rose by 1.8 percent to 165.3 (Provisional) from 162.4 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of crc (9%), angles and wire rods (5% each),     rounds and billets (4% each), joist & beams and rebars (3% each), plates, melting scrap, pencil  ingots, gp/gc sheets, sponge iron, copper products (other than wire), ferro manganese and hrc (2% each) and iron & steel wire,     slab, nuts/bolts/screw/ washers, ferro chrome, pressure cooker, metal containers, steel: pipes & tubes, gold & gold ornaments, sheets, copper wire (all types), pig iron, steel rods and aluminium (1% each).  However, the prices of copper / copper ingots, silver and iron castings (1% each) declined.

 

The index for ‘Machinery & Machine Tools’ group rose by 0.3 percent to 126.4 (Provisional) from 126.0 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of control equipments (6%), loader and  ball/roller bearing (3% each), fibre optic cable (2%) and machine tools, compressors, fans, transformer, magnets, electric switches and pump & assembly (1% each).  However, the prices of microwave oven (3%), earth moving machinery (2%) and lamps, electrical pumps, industrial  valves and battery dry cells (1% each) declined.

 

The index for ‘Transport, Equipment & Parts’ group rose by 0.5 percent to 126.8 (Provisional) from 126.2 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of tractors and motor cycle / scooter / moped (2% each) and motor vehicles and auto parts (1% each).  However, the prices of  bus / mini bus / truck (1%) declined.

 

FINAL INDEX FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, 2012 (BASE YEAR: 2004-05=100)

 

For the month of February, 2012 the final Wholesale Price Index for ‘All Commodities’ (Base: 2004-05=100) stood at 159.0  as compared to 158.4 (Provisional) and annual rate of inflation based on final index stood at 7.36 percent as compared to 6.95 percent (Provisional) reported on 14.03.2012.

 

Next date of press release: 14/06/2012 for the month of May, 2012

Annexure-I

Wholesale Price Index and Rates of Inflation (Base Year: 2004-05=100)

 

						Month of April, 2012
Commodities/Major Groups/Groups/Sub-Groups	Weight	WPI Apr., 2012	Latest month over month			Build up from March		Year on year
			2011-12		2012-13	2011-12	2012-13	2011-12	2012-13
ALL COMMODITIES	100.00000	163.1	1.74		2.07	1.74	2.07	9.74	7.23
PRIMARY ARTICLES	20.11815	215.9	4.57		4.65	4.57	4.65	15.09	9.71
Food Articles	14.33709	206.4	4.36		4.88	4.36	4.88	10.66	10.49
Cereals	3.37323	182.5	0.12		1.45	0.12	1.45	4.42	5.80
Rice	1.79348	176.8	0.18		1.09	0.18	1.09	2.32	5.68
Wheat	1.11595	174.7	-2.25		1.63	-2.25	1.63	0.18	3.25
Pulses	0.71662	211.0	-0.73		0.38	-0.73	0.38	-6.37	11.29
Vegetables	1.73553	236.3	2.44		26.30	2.44	26.30	2.02	60.97
Potato	0.20150	167.4	2.06		40.32	2.06	40.32	-1.09	53.44
Onion	0.17794	137.9	-12.40		1.62	-12.40	1.62	6.01	-12.11
Fruits	2.10717	197.0	26.12		11.80	26.12	11.80	44.44	-15.34
Milk	3.23818	202.6	0.46		0.65	0.46	0.65	2.87	15.51
Egg, Meat & Fish	2.41384	229.8	0.05		-0.09	0.05	-0.09	11.14	17.54
Non-Food Articles	4.25756	195.3	0.42		3.28	0.42	3.28	26.86	1.61
Fibres	0.87737	197.2	0.74		1.34	0.74	1.34	87.22	-30.98
Oil Seeds	1.78051	177.9	0.99		4.46	0.99	4.46	10.03	16.66
Minerals	1.52350	362.1	13.79		5.57	13.79	5.57	23.57	19.27
FUEL & POWER	14.91021	177.1	1.21		1.78	1.21	1.78	13.04	11.03
Liquefied petroleum gas	0.91468	148.9	0.00		1.09	0.00	1.09	11.31	15.52
Petrol	1.09015	177.7	0.00		0.00	0.00	0.00	21.81	12.04
High speed diesel	4.67020	167.8	0.00		0.00	0.00	0.00	5.49	9.24
MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS	64.97164	143.6	0.74		0.98	0.74	0.98	6.80	5.12
Food Products	9.97396	155.7	0.76		1.30	0.76	1.30	5.94	6.50
Sugar	1.73731	176.4	0.35		0.34	0.35	0.34	3.45	3.10
Edible Oils	3.04293	144.1	0.70		1.91	0.70	1.91	13.47	11.10
Beverages, Tobacco & Tobacco Product	1.76247	169.8	0.39		1.56	0.39	1.56	7.71	9.48
Cotton Textiles	2.60526	141.9	1.68		0.21	1.68	0.21	31.08	-9.79
Man Made Textiles	2.20573	120.4	0.66		0.25	0.66	0.25	11.83	-2.03
Wood & Wood Products	0.58744	165.2	0.92		1.60	0.92	1.60	2.89	7.90
Paper & Paper Products	2.03350	132.6	1.00		-0.45	1.00	-0.45	6.86	1.38
Leather & Leather Products	0.83509	132.0	0.96		0.61	0.96	0.61	-0.16	4.18
Rubber & Plastic Products	2.98697	135.3	0.38		0.59	0.38	0.59	9.52	1.35
Chemicals & Chemical Products	12.01770	139.6	1.31		0.50	1.31	0.50	6.85	6.56
Non-Metallic Mineral Products	2.55597	160.3	0.40		2.30	0.40	2.30	3.62	7.66
Cement & Lime	1.38646	166.9	0.39		3.66	0.39	3.66	1.78	8.17
Basic Metals Alloys & Metal Product	10.74785	165.3	0.67		1.79	0.67	1.79	7.49	10.72
Iron & Semis	1.56301	167.3	1.07		1.76	1.07	1.76	12.36	17.98
Machinery & Machine Tools	8.93148	126.4	0.49		0.32	0.49	0.32	2.82	2.02
Transport Equipment & Parts	5.21282	126.8	0.16		0.48	0.16	0.48	2.08	3.43

 

 

Annexure-II
Trend of Rate of Inflation for some important items during last six months
Commodities/Major Groups/Groups/Sub-Groups	Weight (%)	Rate of Inflation for the last six months
		Apr-12	Mar-12	Feb-12	Jan-12	Dec-11	Nov-11
ALL COMMODITIES	100.00	7.23	6.89	7.36	6.89	7.74	9.46
PRIMARY ARTICLES	20.12	9.71	9.62	7.07	2.76	3.59	8.90
Food Articles	14.34	10.49	9.94	6.12	-0.68	0.79	8.32
Cereals	3.37	5.80	4.41	1.83	2.25	1.74	2.15
Rice	1.79	5.68	4.73	1.53	0.94	1.17	2.99
Wheat	1.12	3.25	-0.69	-3.95	-3.42	-3.87	-4.86
Pulses	0.72	11.29	10.05	7.86	11.01	13.73	14.96
Vegetables	1.74	60.97	30.57	1.71	-43.74	-34.55	10.68
Potato	0.20	53.44	11.60	-2.22	-23.15	-35.39	-9.31
Onion	0.18	-12.11	-24.23	-48.66	-75.62	-61.62	-35.15
Fruits	2.11	-15.34	-4.50	-0.29	6.43	8.78	7.29
Milk	3.24	15.51	15.29	11.70	12.33	11.02	10.91
Egg, Meat & Fish	2.41	17.54	17.71	20.00	18.27	13.10	11.40
Non-Food Articles	4.26	1.61	-1.20	-2.51	0.72	1.82	3.40
Fibres	0.88	-30.98	-31.38	-29.89	-15.04	-7.41	1.56
Oil Seeds	1.78	16.66	12.78	9.39	12.77	10.57	11.54
Minerals	1.52	19.27	28.56	32.31	30.73	25.79	22.53
FUEL & POWER	14.91	11.03	10.41	13.55	14.61	14.98	15.48
Liquefied petroleum gas	0.91	15.52	14.27	14.27	14.27	14.27	14.27
Petrol	1.09	12.04	12.04	12.04	15.02	20.39	27.63
High speed diesel	4.67	9.24	9.24	9.24	9.24	9.24	9.24
MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS	64.97	5.12	4.87	5.82	6.71	7.64	8.17
Food Products	9.97	6.50	5.93	5.58	5.51	6.31	7.24
Sugar	1.74	3.10	3.11	4.07	2.54	4.69	6.18
Edible Oils	3.04	11.10	9.78	7.65	9.43	11.93	11.82
Beverages, Tobacco & Tobacco Product	1.76	9.48	8.22	10.76	10.96	14.08	13.22
Cotton Textiles	2.61	-9.79	-8.47	-3.51	0.36	5.69	9.51
Man Made Textiles	2.21	-2.03	-1.64	-0.33	2.04	4.11	5.58
Wood & Wood Products	0.59	7.90	7.19	8.47	8.98	8.93	9.01
Paper & Paper Products	2.03	1.38	2.86	3.20	4.27	5.25	5.25
Leather & Leather Products	0.84	4.18	4.54	5.33	6.57	2.97	3.13
Rubber & Plastic Products	2.99	1.35	1.13	2.21	3.31	4.94	5.29
Chemicals & Chemical Products	12.02	6.56	7.42	7.99	9.45	9.90	9.98
Non-Metallic Mineral Products	2.56	7.66	5.66	6.91	8.11	8.64	8.28
Cement & Lime	1.39	8.17	4.75	6.15	7.96	8.91	8.22
Basic Metals Alloys & Metal Product	10.75	10.72	9.51	10.50	12.33	13.53	13.94
Iron & Semis	1.56	17.98	17.18	15.96	19.21	24.52	24.00
Machinery & Machine Tools	8.93	2.02	2.19	3.10	3.03	3.12	3.55
Transport Equipment & Parts	5.21	3.43	3.10	3.45	3.29	4.50	4.68

 

 

DS/GK