Food inflation rises to 12.81 pc; fuel prices up 14.27 pc

New Delhi, July 15 (PTI) Annual food inflation inched up
to 12.81 per cent for the week ended July 3, while fuel
inflation shot up to 14.27 per cent, reflecting the hike in
oil prices.
In the previous week food inflation was at 12.63 per cent
and fuel inflation at 18.02 per cent.
While vegetable prices fell by 5.70 per cent year-on
year, costlier pulses and cereals kept food inflation higher.
Potato became cheaper by nearly 43 per cent, while onion
prices were down five per cent on an annual basis. Cereals
turned dearer by 6.04 per cent and rice by 6.10 per cent.
Prices of pulses shot up 28.98 per cent and that of milk
by 15.91 per cent. Year-on-year fruit prices went up by 15.91
per cent.
The impact of the hike in fuel prices hike by the
government on June 25 was seen in the prices of petroleum
products, which rose 14.27 per cent annually.
The increase spurred the overall inflation to 10.55 per
cent in June.
Prices of petrol and diesel were raised by up to Rs 3.50
a litre, while that of LPG and kerosene were hiked by 35 per
cylinder and Rs 3 a litre respectively.
Food inflation had remained above the 16 per cent-level
for most part of the year. However, it had fallen sharply
since mid June to below 13 per cent mainly on lower base
a year ago. PTI