28 January,2010 01:19 PM IST | | IANS
India's annual food inflation based on wholesale prices rose to 17.4 per cent for the week ended January 16 from 16.81 per cent the week before, according to official statistics released on Thursday.
Essential items continued to rule firm, with potatoes dearer by 57.56 per cent over the past 52 weeks, pulses up 46.87 per cent, and vegetables costlier by 10.5 per cent. But prices of onions declined 1.69 per cent.
The limited data on the wholesale index released by the commerce and industry ministry further showed that while the index for primary articles rose 14.66 per cent that for fuels fell 5.28 per cent.
India's overall inflation rate, based on the wholesale prices index, had risen sharply to 7.31 per cent in December from 4.78 per cent the previous month mainly on account of increasing food prices. The food index was up 19.17 per cent.
The price rise of some essential food items over the 52-week period are:
Potatoes: 57.56 per cent
Pulses: 46.87 per cent
Cereals: 14.06 per cent
Rice: 12.60 per cent
Milk: 13.95 per cent
Wheat: 14.48 per cent
Vegetables: 10.5 per cent
Fruits: 4.17 per cent
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said last week high inflation was a matter of concern and that the government was monitoring the situation, even as Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said prices of essential items would start coming down in 8-10 days.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is slated to discuss the issue of price rise with state chief ministers February 6. The meeting was earlier scheduled for January 27.
