Inflation rises to 7.55 pc in May; potato prices shoot up

Inflation, as measured by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), was 7.23 per cent in April. In May last year, however, it was 9.56 per cent.

Overall food inflation rose to 10.74 per cent in May, from 10.49 per cent in the previous month. Food articles have 14.3 per cent share in the WPI basket.

Potatoes turned costlier by 68.10 per cent during May on annual basis. For April, the rate of price rise was 53.44 per cent. Besides, pulses and wheat turned expensive by 16.61 per cent and 6.81 per cent respectively.

However, vegetables inflation was lower at 49.43 per cent in May. In April, the rate of price rise was 61 per cent.

Besides, eggs, meat and fish prices rose 17.89 per cent during the month, slightly higher than 17.54 per cent in April, the official data released today showed.

Inflation in milk was 11.90 per cent, while rice and cereals turned costlier by 5.07 per cent and 5.73 per cent respectively.

Onion prices declined (-)7.23 per cent in May. The rate of decline was (-)12.11 per cent in April.

Non-food manufactured inflation showed some easing and was 5.02 per cent in May. It was 5.12 per cent in April.

The headline inflation number for March was revised upwards to 7.69 per cent, from the provisional estimate of 6.89 per cent. MORE