Inflation rises above 5

NEW DELHI, April 12: Arresting the five-week slide, the inflation rate rose by 0.16 per cent to cross the five per cent mark to touch 5.03 per cent on March 28, after staying below five per cent for the last two weeks. It was 4.87 per cent in the previous week.

The recent increase in the inflation rate was attributed to the substantial hike in prices of condiments, spices, raw skins, raw jute, raw rubber, rice bran oil, rapeseed oil, mustard seed oil, linseed and fourtain pens.

But barley, tea, wheat and coconut oil became cheaper during the week under review.

The official WPI for all commodities base 1981-82 moved up to 336.2 during the week ended March 28 as against the 335.8 in the previous week.