Inflation, as measured by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), was 7.25 per cent in June. In July last year, it was 9.36 per cent.
Overall, food inflation declined to 10.06 per cent in July, from 10.81 per cent in June. In July last year, however, the rate of price rise in this category was 8.19 per cent. Food articles have 14.3 per cent share in the WPI basket.
In the manufactured items category, prices rose for cotton textiles, paper and paper products, cement and lime. The rate of price rise in the manufactured products was 5.58 per cent in July, as against 5 per cent in June.
In food articles category in July, potatoes turned expensive by 73 per cent, rice by 10.12 per cent, cereals by 8.29 per cent and pulses by 28.26 per cent on annual basis. Besides, eggs, meat, fish prices were up by 16 per cent. Inflation rate in milk prices was 8.01 per cent and for vegetables it was 24.11 per cent.
However, the pressure on prices of onions and fruits declined during July. While inflation in fruits was negative at (-)0.15 per cent, for onion it was (-)9.81 per cent.
Among the non-food articles, inflation in fibers was high at 5.89 per cent, oil seeds at 25.22 per cent and minerals at 8.43 per cent.