The government on Monday again hinted that petrol and diesel prices are unlikely to be changed this week. With inflation rising to 8.33 per cent, petroleum minister Mani Shankar Aiyar on Monday hinted that state-run oil firms may not change prices of petrol and diesel at the next fortnightly revision due on September 15 despite rise in crude prices. “It is comforting that compared to the steep levels of mid-August, crude oil prices have softened. Despite (the fall in prices), today’s prices are still higher than the July 31 prices.” However, Aiyar said “for the past few weeks, fuel prices have remained frozen (at July 31 levels) and the rise in inflation is due to the spillover of that price hike. Steps will continue to be taken to curb inflation,” he said.
