... But Pulses’ inflation is at 34.45%, in double digits since January 2015

The price rise of pulses has continued to remain at an elevated level of 34.45 per cent in March, marking a double-digit inflation in lentils since January 2015, though several other essential kitchen staples have shown moderation in rates. The rate of price rise in pulses, as per the WPI data released on Monday, worked out to be 34.45 per cent while the overall wholesale price-based inflation remained in negative for 17th month in a row at (-)0.85 per cent in March. The inflation in pulses have been recording double digit increase since January 2015 when it was 12.56 per cent. Since then inflation touched a high of 58.09 per cent in November 2015. “Pulses have shown upward price pressure continuously... and policymakers should check and address this issue through supply side responses,” Assocham said. ICRA Senior Economist Aditi Nayar said that prices of pulses have hardened in the first half of April. Besides, prices of certain vegetables have risen in the last fortnight in line with seasonal trends during the summer months. In order to deal with the rising prices of pulses, the government had in October announced host of steps including use of price stabilisation fund and imports to cool prices and create a buffer stock.