Inflation falls to minus 1.54 pc

Inflation fell to (-)1.54 per cent for the week ended July 18 even as essential food items like cereals, pulses, fruit and vegetables turned expensive.

Inflation stood at (-)1.17 per cent in the previous week. However, the wholesale price index was as high as 12.54 per cent in the corresponding week a year ago.

The prices of food items like mutton rose by 14 per cent, arhar by 9 per cent, gram by 4 per cent, fruit and vegetables by 2 per cent during the week.

However, a major decline was registered in mineral index, as prices fell by 16.8 per cent mainly due to softening iron ore prices by 24 per cent and felspar by 3 per cent.

At the same time, prices of jet fuel also declined by 7 per cent during the week.