Inflation remains static at 4.2%

Inflation stood unchanged at the previous week's figure of 4.2 per cent for the week ended May 8, even as the prices of atta, maida, rawa, condiments and spices fell. It was at 6.76 per cent in the year-ago period.

The point-to-point Wholesale Price Index-based inflation stood firm despite the increasing prices of wheat, eggs and some edible oils.

The WPI was at 181.1 points during the latest reported week, with fuel prices remaining firm. The index was 173.8 points in the previous year period.

The final inflation and WPI for the week ended March 13 were unaltered at the provisional levels of 4.78 per cent and 179.7 points, respectively.

The index of primary articles' group was down marginally 0.1 per cent to 183.8 points despite prices of food items remaining firm and non-food articles becoming cheaper. The index was 180.9 points in the year-ago period.

The food articles' group index remained unchanged at the previous week's level of 182.6 points, even as there was a two per cent price rise in the prices of eggs and one per cent in wheat, while prices fell for barley (four per cent), condiments and spices (two per cent) and masur (one per cent).

The index of non-food articles' group declined 0.2 per cent to 189.9 points as prices fell for castor seed (three per cent) and raw cotton and copra (one per cent each). However, prices rose for tobacco (three per cent), raw silk and raw jute (two per cent each).

The index of fuel, power, light and lubricants' group stood firm at the previous week's level of 264.2 points. The index was 249.5 points in the previous-year period.

The index of heavy-weight manufactured products group rose 0.1 per cent to 161.7 points mainly because of costlier food products, machinery and non-metallic mineral products.