India’s Wholesale Price Index (WPI) based inflation rose marginally to 9.92 per cent in August, from 9.78 per cent in July, on an annual basis. According to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the annual inflation last month was driven by higher prices of mineral oils, food articles, food products, basic metals, non-food articles, chemicals and chemical products. The wholesale price inflation remained above the nine percent mark for the fourth consecutive month.

 

Among the major categories in WPI, year over year inflation in the Fuel and Power group surged to 22.9 per cent last month, from 20 per cent in July. Inflation in Manufactured Products rose slightly to almost 8.4 per cent, from 8.3 per cent. Meanwhile, inflation in Primary Articles decreased to around 7.8 per cent in August, from 8.5 per cent in July. The WPI Food Index, which comprises food articles and food products, rose to 7.05 per cent in August, from 6.65 per cent in the previous month. The Output Producer Price Index increased by 9.81 per cent year-on-year in August.