The annual rate of inflation went down 0.21 per cent to touch 5.44 per cent for the week ended May 31. The rate of inflation was at 1.93 per cent during the corresponding period last year.
The wholesale price index (WPI) rose 0.2 per cent to 172.5 points in the latest reported week even as prices of primary articles and fuels were stuck at the previous week's level. The index was 163.6 a year ago.
The final WPI stood at 172.9 for the week ended April 5 compared to the provisional level of 172.1, while the final point-to-point inflation was pegged at 6.66 per cent, against the provisional figure of 6.17 per cent.
During the week ended May 31, the primary articles' group index stood at the previous week's level of 180.6. The index was 170.8 in the corresponding period last year.
The index for food articles' group was up 0.1 per cent to 181 due to costlier fish-marine (4 per cent), tea (3 per cent) and ragi, moong and fruits (1 per cent each). But prices fell for poultry chicken (2 per cent) and vegetables, bajra, condiments and spices (one per cent each).
The fuel, power, light and lubricants' group index stood at the previous week's level of 246.2. The index was 230.4 a year ago.
The manufactured products' group index was up 0.4 per cent to 153.2 as prices rose for food products, beverages, tobacco, basic metals, machinery and transport equipment. The index was 146.2 during the same period in the previous year.
The index for food products' group increased by 0.1 per cent owing to costlier solvent extracted groundnut oil (five per cent) and maida, sooji-rawa, atta, sugar and hydrogenated vanaspati (one per cent each).
Prices, however, fell for groundnut oil (four per cent), gingelly oil (three per cent), coconut oil (two per cent) and rice bran oil, cotton seed oil, sunflower oil, oil cakes and gur (one per cent each).
The index for machinery and machine parts' group rose by 0.1 per cent owing to three per cent price increase in tractor components and one per cent in complete tractors and that of transport equipment and parts rose by 0.1 per cent due to one per cent rise in the price of motorcycles.
Textiles' group index declined by 0.1 per cent on account of two per cent price dip in texturised yarn, while there was four per cent price increase in nylon filament yarn.
