Food inflation rises to 9.13 pc

Food inflation, as measured by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), stood at 8.96 per cent during the previous week. It was almost 23 per cent during the second week of June, 2010.

Food inflation has crossed the 9 per cent mark after a gap of one week.

The latest food inflation numbers are the highest since the week ended March 26, 2011, when the rate of price rise of food items touched 9.18 per cent.

As per data released by the government today, fruits became dearer by 28.66 per cent year-on-year, while milk grew 15.30 per cent more expensive.

During the week under review, prices of onions went up by 11.89 per cent and eggs, meat and fish by 10.56 per cent on an annual basis.

Cereals were also up 4.32 per cent and potatoes became dearer by 0.71 per cent.

However, prices of pulses, wheat and vegetables went down during the week. While pulses became 10.34 per cent cheaper, wheat was down 1 per cent and vegetables 9.27 per cent.

Overall, primary articles reported inflation of 12.62 per cent during the period under review, down from 12.86 per cent in the previous week. Primary articles have a share of 20 per cent in the WPI.

The latest surge in food inflation comes close on the heels of the India Meteorological Department`s (IMD) forecast that monsoon rains are expected to be below normal at 95 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA), with margin for error of plus or minus 4 per cent.

A below normal monsoon can have a serious fallout on agricultural output.

Meanwhile, inflation of non-food primary articles stood at 18.43 per cent for the week ended June 11 as against 20.20 per cent during the previous week.

Fibres grew more expensive by 43.77 per cent and minerals by 25.90 per cent. Fuel and power became dearer by 12.84 per cent and petrol was up 33.23 per cent year-on-year.