WPI inflation at (-)4.54%; pulses, onion continue to sting

New Delhi: Deflationary trend continued for 11th straight month, with WPI inflation remaining in the negative territory at (-)4.54 percent in September, but the common man continued to reel under the burden of rising prices of pulses and onion.

The Wholesale Price Index-based inflation came in at (-)4.95 percent in August. It has been in the negative zone since November. In September last year, inflation was 2.38 percent.

Commenting on the inflation numbers, Jaitley said but for onion and pulses, the price situation is "under control".

"There are only two significant items which we have to be concerned about. First was onion, which had because of seasonal variation gone up. Onion prices have substantially cooled since then and presently it is only the pulses whose price situation needs to be handled," Jaitley said.

The Consumer Affairs department is the nodal ministry handling the issue, he said.

Inflation in food articles inched up to 0.69 percent in September, from (-)1.13 percent in August.

Onion and pulses turned costlier, with inflation at 113.70 percent and 38.56 percent respectively during September, according to official data released today.

Inflation in pulses remained over 36 percent for four months in a row.

India Ratings & Research Chief Economist Devendra Kumar Pant said: "Decline in deflation is on expected lines. With favourable base effect waning, wholesale inflation is expected to increase. The cause of worry now is pulses."

As per the official data, the rate of price rise in vegetables was at (-)9.45 percent as against (-)21.21 percent in August.

Inflation in fuel and power segment was (-)17.71 percent while that of manufactured products was (-)1.73 percent in September.

India Inc said various steps taken by the government to tackle inflation seem to be yielding results.

"The central and state governments need to take proactive steps to contain any further rise in prices of essential commodities like pulses and onions," Assocham President Rana Kapoor said.