December WPI inflation rises to 0.11 per cent, snaps 6-month falling trend

Reversing a six month declining trend, inflation moved up marginally to 0.11 per cent in December mainly due to increase in prices of food items.

Inflation measured on wholesale price index (WPI) was at zero in November.

The food inflation in December moved to a five month high of 5.2 per cent, as per the government data released on Wednesday.

Inflation in pulses, vegetables and fruits was higher in December over the previous month.

On the other hand, the rate of price rise in wheat, milk and protein rich items like egg, meat and fish was slower in the month under review.

The data further showed that the contraction in WPI inflation for petrol was steeper at 11.96 per cent from 9.96 per cent in November. Similarly the rate of decline in diesel prices during December was higher than in the previous month.

The inflation in the primary articles segment inched up to 2.17 pe cent in December against a decline of 0.98 per cent in November.

The WPI inflation was on the decline since June before it inched up in the month under review.

Meanwhile, the government has revised downwards the October WPI inflation to 1.66 per cent as against the earlier estimate of 1.77 per cent.