August WPI for commodities released

New Delhi — The official Wholesale Price Index for all commodities (base: 2004-05 = 100) for the month of August 2014 rose by 0.6% to 185.7 (provisional) from 184.6 (provisional) for the previous month.

Inflation

The annual rate of inflation, based on monthly WPI, stood at 3.74% (provisional) for the month of August, 2014 (over August,2013) as compared to 5.19% (provisional) for the previous month and 6.99% during the corresponding month of the previous year. Build up inflation rate in the financial year so far was 3.00% compared to a build up rate of 5.23% in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Inflation for important commodities / commodity groups is indicated in Annex-1 and Annex-II.

The movement of the index for the various commodity groups is summarized below:

Primary articles (weight 20.12%)
The index for this major group rose by 2.0% to 261.7 (provisional) from 256.6 (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 2.6% to 265.4 (provisional) from 258.6 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of fruits & vegetables (7%), urad and condiments & spices (4% each), arhar, barley and milk (3 % each), masur, gram and ragi (2% each) and jowar, rice, coffee, poultry chicken, fish-marine and wheat (1% each).  However, the price of tea (9%), fish-inland (7%), maize and pork (2% each) and egg and bajra (1% each) declined.

The index for ‘Non-Food Articles’ group rose by 0.3% to 218.7 (provisional) from 218.1 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of flowers (15%), copra (coconut) (14%), gingelly seed (6%), niger seed (5%), groundnut seed and linseed (2% each) and castor seed, rape & mustard seed and cotton seed (1% each).  However, the price of raw rubber (6 %), soyabean, raw silk and raw jute (4% each), raw cotton (3%), fodder (2%) and sunflower (1%) declined.

The index for ‘Minerals’ group rose by 0.3% to  347.0 (provisional) from 346.1 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of barytes (10%), iron ore (3%), steatite and magnesite (2% each) and chromite (1%).  However, the price of sillimanite (23%), copper ore (5%), zinc concentrate (4%) declined.

Fuel and power (weight 14.91%)
The index for this major group declined by 0.3% to 214.0 (provisional) from 214.7 (provisional) for the previous month due to lower price of petrol and furnace oil (3% each) and bitumen (2%).  However, the price of high speed diesel (1%) moved up.

Manufactured products (weight 64.97%)
The index for this major group rose by 0.3% to 155.8 (provisional) from 155.4 (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 0.1% to 174.7 (provisional) from 174.6 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of coffee powder (9%), copra oil (4%), gram powder (besan) (2%) and sugar, khandsari and sooji (rawa) (1% each).  However, the price of tea dust (blended) (7%), mixed spices and tea leaf (blended) (2% each) and  bakery products, soyabean oil, gur and gingelly oil (1% each) declined.

The index for ‘Beverages, Tobacco & Tobacco Products’ group rose by 0.5% to 199.6 (provisional) from 198.7 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of dried tobacco (6%), chewing tobacco (scented or not ) (2%) and beer and rectified spirit (1% each).

The index for ‘Textiles’ group rose by 0.1% to 144.2 (provisional) from 144.1 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of tyre cord fabric (4%), jute sacking cloth and man made fabric (2% each) and jute yarn and man made fibre (1% each).  However, the price of gunny and hessian cloth (4%) and cotton yarn and jute sacking bag (1% each) declined.

The index for ‘Paper & Paper Products’ group rose by 0.2% to 149.6 (provisional) from 149.3 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of paper cartons / boxes (2%) and printing and writing paper (1%).

The index for ‘Leather & Leather Products’ group rose by 1.7% to 146.7 (provisional) from 144.3 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of leather footwear (3%).

The index for ‘Rubber & Plastic Products’ group rose by 0.2% to 150.9 (provisional) from 150.6 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of plastic films & sheets and football (3% each), rubber footwear and reclaimed rubber (2% each) and plastic rolls and hdpe bag (1% each).  However, the price of plastic containers (3%) and hdpe woven sacks (2%) and pvc rigid and polyester chips (1% each) declined.

The index for ‘Chemicals & Chemical Products’ group rose by 0.5% to 154.1 (provisional) from 153.3 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of rubber chemicals (5%), pesticides (2%) and agarbattis, explosives,     turpentine oil, synthetic resin, dye & dye intermediates, vitamins, washing soap, organic manure, basic organic chemicals,  basic inorganic chemicals and non-cyclic compound (1% each).  However, the price of lacquer & varnishes, paints and washing powder (1% each) declined.

The index for ‘Non-Metallic Mineral Products’ group rose by 0.8% to 169.5 (provisional) from 168.1 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of marbles (3%) and grey cement and railway sleeper (2% each).  However, the price of bricks & tiles (1%) declined.

The index for ‘Basic Metals, Alloys & Metal Products’ group declined by 0.2% to 166.4 (provisional) from 166.8 (provisional) for the previous month due to lower price of wire rods and pig iron (3% each), melting scrap (2%) and      sponge iron, rounds, plates, steel rods, angles, pencil  ingots, crc, gold & gold ornaments, joist & beams, fixtures and ferro chrome (1% each).  However, the price of steel castings, ferro manganese and nuts/bolts/screw/ washers (2% each) and aluminium, silver and rebars (1% each) moved up.

The index for ‘Machinery & Machine Tools’ group rose by 0.4% to 134.5 (provisional) from 133.9 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of pvc insulated cable (6%), heat exchanger (4%), grinding /wet coffee machinery and loader (2% each) and conductor, insulators, electric switch gears, pump & assembly, electric switches and battery dry cells (1% each).  However, the price of washing / laundry machines (3%), ball/roller bearing and microwave oven (2% each) and fibre optic cable, material handling equipments and machine tools (1% each) declined.

The index for ‘Transport, Equipment & Parts’ group rose by 0.1% to 136.0 (provisional) from 135.8 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of bi-cycles (2%) and bus / mini bus / truck (1%).

Final index for the month of June, 2014 (base year: 2004-05=100)
For the month of  June, 2014, the final Wholesale Price Index for ‘All Commodities’ (Base: 2004-05=100) stood at 183.0 as compared to 182.6 (provisional) and annual rate of inflation based on final index stood at 5.66% as compared to 5.43% respectively as reported on 16.06.2014.

Annexure-I

Wholesale Price Index and Rates of Inflation (Base Year: 2004-05=100)

 Annexure-II

 PIB