Retail inflation rises to 4.41% in Sept on dearer food items

Retail inflation rose to 4.41 <g data-gr-id="37">per cent</g> in September due to costlier food items in general and beverages and pulses in particular. 

The government revised upwards the August retail inflation to 3.74 <g data-gr-id="30">per cent</g> from the earlier estimate of 3.66 <g data-gr-id="31">per cent</g>. However, the consumer inflation for the month under review has declined as against August last year when it stood at 5.63 <g data-gr-id="32">per cent</g>.

Food inflation during the month rose to 3.88 per cent from 2.20 per cent in August. Retail inflation in pulses and products category rose to 29.76 <g data-gr-id="26">per cent</g> in September.

While the price rise in the food and beverages category almost doubled from a month earlier to 4.29 <g data-gr-id="29">per cent</g> in September, inflation in cereals and products was also higher at 1.38 per cent.

However, among other <g data-gr-id="45">protein rich</g> items such as meat and fish, the rate of price rise has slowed to 5.59 <g data-gr-id="46">per cent</g>. Likewise, milk and its products were also cheaper in September with inflation rate at 5.05 <g data-gr-id="47">per cent</g>. During the month, eggs also turned cheaper with 1.19 per cent price rise. However, the rate of price growth for ‘cereals and products’ was faster at 1.38 <g data-gr-id="48">per cent</g>.

As per the data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI), inflation in sugar and confectionery category remained in <g data-gr-id="42">negative</g> zone at (-) 12.91 per cent. The price rise in spices category was higher at 9.27 per cent and for non-alcoholic beverages at 4.32 per cent.

Break-wise; retail inflation rose to 5.05 <g data-gr-id="27">per cent</g> for <g data-gr-id="35">rural</g> segment in September and for <g data-gr-id="36">urban</g> sector it was at 3.61 <g data-gr-id="28">per cent</g>.