The government is likely to clear tomorrow a proposal suggesting release of inflation data on monthly basis and not every week for bulk of the items tracked by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI). The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) is expected to take up tomorrow the Commerce and Industry Ministrys proposal,which was finalised on the recommendations of a working group headed by Abhijit Sen,Member,Planning Commission. Sources in the Commerce and Industry Ministry said if the proposal is approved by the CCEA,the shift in data release would take place from December. On a parallel track,weekly inflation figures would be given for the food articles and fuels. The changes in the frequency of data release are being brought in line with the global practices,an official said. On Thursday,Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia had also pressed for following the international practices on data release. We have been arguing for the past one year to get rate of monthly inflation. You know weekly is just not sensible, Ahluwalia had said.
