WPI inflation edges down to 2.47% on falling food items

Wholesale price inflation in March slightly eased to 2.47 per cent helped by falling prices of food items, especially vegetables and pulses.

On the basis of Wholesale Price Index (WPI), inflation was 2.48 per cent in February and 5.11 per cent in March last year.

According to a data released on Monday, food articles witnessed deflation after about eight months as vegetables, cereals, pulses, eggs, meat and fish, turned cheaper. Wholesale prices of food articles fell 0.29 per cent in March compared to a 0.88 per cent rise in the previous month.

Deflation in pulses was 20.58 per cent, in vegetables (2.70 per cent), wheat (1.19 per cent) and egg, meat and fish (0.82 per cent) in March.

Inflation in onion continued to rule high at 42.22 per cent and in potato at 43.25 per cent. Manufactured products inflation was at 3.03 per cent even as sugar prices fell 10.48 per cent during the month.