India's April wholesale inflation at 0.34 pct

The inflation turned positive after remaining negative for 17 months.

"The annual rate of inflation, based on monthly WPI, stood at 0.34% (provisional) for the month of April, 2016 (over April, 2015) as compared to -0.85% (provisional) for the previous month and -2.43% during the corresponding month of the previous year.  Build up inflation rate in the financial year so far was 1.37% compared to a build up rate of 0.17% in the corresponding period of the previous year," read the government statement.

The index for this major group rose by 2.1 percent to 249.3 (provisional) from 244.1 (provisional) for the previous month. The groups and items which showed variations during the month are as follows:-

The index for ‘Food Articles’  group rose by 2.0 percent to 263.8 (provisional) from 258.6  (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of tea (11%), gram, poultry chicken and fruits & vegetables (7% each), beef & buffalo meat     (6 %), barley, pork and bajra (4% each), ragi and arhar (3% each), moong, urad, maize and masur (2% each) and jowar (1%).   However, the price of egg (4%), fish-marine (2%) and fish-inland and wheat (1% each) declined.

The index for ‘Non-Food Articles’ group rose by 3.0 percent to 225.6 (provisional) from 219.0 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of raw rubber (21%), raw silk (14%), gingelly seed (12%), soyabean (8%), groundnut seed and guar seed (7% each), linseed (6%), castor seed and flowers (4% each), raw cotton (3%), raw jute (2%) and copra (coconut), safflower (kardi seed) and coir fibre (1% each).  However, the price of fodder (3%), sunflower (2%) and niger seed, rape & mustard seed and cotton seed (1% each) declined.

The index for ‘Minerals’ group rose by 0.6 percent to  179.5 (provisional) from 178.5  (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of copper ore and crude petroleum (2% each).  However, the price of zinc concentrate (10%),      manganese ore (7%), chromite (6%) and sillimanite, iron ore and magnesite (1% each) declined.

The index for this major group rose by 1.7 percent to 175.4 (provisional) from 172.4 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of aviation turbine fuel (10%), bitumen (8%), furnace oil and petrol (5% each) and high speed diesel (3%).

The index for this major group rose by 0.8 percent to 155.0 (provisional) from 153.7 (provisional) for the previous month. The groups and items for which the index showed variations during the month are as follows:-

The index for ‘Food Products’ group rose by 3.2 percent to 183.4 (provisional) from 177.7 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of tea leaf (unblended) (20%), tea leaf (blended) (19%),  gur (10%), sugar (8%), gingelly oil    (7%), groundnut oil, khandsari and tea dust (unblended) (6% each), rice bran oil (4%), soyabean oil, vanaspati, oil cakes and sugar confectionary (2% each) and palm oil, mustard & rapeseed oil and tea dust (blended) (1% each).  However, the price of cotton seed oil (4%), sooji (rawa) (2%) and sunflower oil, maida and processed prawn (1% each) declined.

The index for ‘Beverages, Tobacco & Tobacco Products’ group rose by 2.9 percent to 216.2 (provisional) from 210.2 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of bidi (8%), dried tobacco (4%), cigarette (2%) and soft drinks & carbonated water, beer and zarda (1% each).

The index for ‘Textiles’ group rose by 0.1 percent to 139.9 (provisional) from 139.8 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of cotton yarn, jute sacking bag and jute sacking cloth (1% each).  However, the price of gunny and hessian cloth and man made fibre (1% each) declined.

The index for ‘Wood & Wood Products’ group rose by 0.6 percent to 198.0 (provisional) from 196.9 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of  plywood & fibre board (1%).

The index for ‘Paper & Paper Products’ group declined by 0.5 percent to 155.3 (provisional) from 156.1 (provisional) for the previous month due to lower price of corrugated sheet boxes (4%), paper pulp (3%) and newsprint (2%).

The index for ‘Leather & Leather Products’ group declined by 0.2 percent to 145.7 (provisional) from 146.0 (provisional) for the previous month due to lower price of leathers (1%).

The index for ‘Rubber & Plastic Products’ group rose by 0.1 percent to 145.7 (provisional) from 145.6 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of rubber products (1%).  However, the price of tubes (1%) declined.

The index for ‘Chemicals & Chemical Products’ group rose by 0.3 percent to 149.9 (provisional) from 149.5 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of turpentine oil (3%), organic manure (2%) and washing soap, non-cyclic compound, lacquer & varnishes, antacid and  digestive preparations, basic organic chemicals, adhesive &  gum and     explosives (1% each).  However, the price of ammonium sulphate (3%) declined.

The index for ‘Non-Metallic Mineral Products’ group rose by 0.6 percent to 179.3 (provisional) from 178.3 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of grey cement and slag  cement (1% each).  However, the price of marbles (2%) declined.

The index for ‘Basic Metals, Alloys & Metal Products’ group rose by 0.5 percent to 153.9 (provisional) from 153.1 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of pig iron and ferro manganese (4% each), melting scrap (3%),     steel structures and gp/gc sheets (2% each) and HRC, steel: pipes & tubes, sheets, rebars, pipes/tubes/rods/strips, plates,     ferro silicon, angles and sponge iron (1% each).  However, the price of billets (1%) declined.

The index for ‘Machinery & Machine Tools’ group rose by 0.1 percent to 135.0 (provisional) from 134.9 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of fibre optic cable (9%), plastic machinery (3%) and electrical pumps, hydraulic equipment and conductor (1% each).  However, the price of communication equipments and industrial valves (1% each) declined.

The index for ‘Transport, Equipment & Parts’ group rose by 0.1 percent to 139.1 (provisional) from 139.0 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of carburetors (1%).  However, the price of radiator & coolers (2%) declined.