Inflation still high at 8.16 pc

NEW DELHI, JAN 28: Annual inflation rate continued to remain static for the third consecutive week at 8.16 per cent for the week ended January 13 despite costlier primary products. The inflation rate based on Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for all commodities (Base Year: 1993-94=100) was above eight per cent as against only 3.77 per cent a year ago. The WPI also stood unchanged at its previous week’s level of 157.8 but higher than 145.9 a year ago.

But prices declined for sunflower by five per cent and by one per cent each for skin raw and raw rubber. Minerals’ group index, however, fell sharply by 0.8 percent to 114.9 from 115.8 due to cheaper asbestos (seven per cent), lime stone (five per cent) and silica sand (three per cent).

However, barytes became costlier by eight per cent andmagnesite by five per cent.

The index for Fuel, Power, Light and Lubricants’ groupcontinued to remain unchanged for the fifth consecutive week at 217.9. But index was way below at 168 a year ago.

PTI