Headline inflation hovered stubbornly near the double-digit mark in October, rising marginally to 9.73% as prices of food products, fuel and manufactured goods put more pressure on the common man's pocket and major sectors of the economy.
Inflation, as measured by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), stood at 9.72% in September. The rate of price stood at 9.08% in October, 2010.
On an annual basis, food items became 11.06% more expensive year-on-year during the month under review. Food inflation was recorded at 9.23% in September.
Vegetables grew 21.76% costlier on an annual basis, while fruit prices were up by 11.96% and milk by 11.12% during the month. Eggs, meat and fish witnessed 12.59% inflation during October, 2011.
Inflation in overall primary articles stood at 11.40% in October, compared to 11.84% in September.
Non-food primary articles, which include fibres, oil seeds and minerals, grew dearer by 7.71% in October, as compared to a 14.82% rise in the previous month.
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Prices of manufactured products, which have a weight of around 65% in the WPI basket, went up by 7.66% year-on-year in October, as against 7.69% in September.
Inflation in manufactured items has been high since February this year, when it crossed the 6%-mark.
Experts said stubborn inflation will put pressure on the government and the RBI at a time when the latest data shows growth in industrial output plunged to a two-year low of 1.9% in September.