The annual rate of inflation, based on monthly Wholesale Price Index (WPI), stood at 2.60% (provisional) for the month of September, 2017 (over September,2016) as compared to 3.24% (provisional) for the previous month and 1.36% during the corresponding month of the previous year, authorities said.

The Wholesale Price Index for ‘All Commodities’ for the month of September, 2017 declined by 0.4 percent to 114.3 from 114.8 (provisional) for the previous month.

The index for primary articles declined by 3 percent to 130.8 (provisional) from 134.9 (provisional) for the previous month. The index for 'Food Articles' group declined by 4 percent to 144.8 (provisional) from 150.8 (provisional) for the previous month due to lower price of fruits & vegetables (15%), betel leaves (6%), ragi (4%), bajra (3%), pork, maize and tea (2% each) and poultry chicken (1%).  However, the price of gram (10%), arhar (3%), masur, urad and fish-inland (2% each) and jowar, egg, barley, condiments & spices and peas/chawali (1% each) moved up.

The index for 'Non-Food Articles' group declined by 0.2 percent to 120.3 (provisional) from 120.6 (provisional) for the previous month due to lower price of floriculture (10%), groundnut seed (5%), raw cotton (3%) and linseed (1%). However, the price of copra (coconut) (12%), raw silk (10%), sunflower and guar seed (4% each), raw jute, gingelly seed and raw rubber (3% each), raw wool and soyabean (2% each) and castor seed, skins (raw), rape & mustard seed, mesta, coir fibre and safflower (kardi seed) (1% each) moved up.

The index for 'Minerals' group rose by 1.1 percent to 119.5 (provisional) from 118.2 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of copper concentrate (6%), manganese ore (2%) and limestone (1%).  However, the price of chromite (24%), iron ore (4%), zinc concentrate and phosphorite (2% each) and lead concentrate (1%) declined.

The index for fuel and power group rose by 1.7 percent to 90.7 (provisional) from 89.2 (provisional) for the previous month.

The index for 'Mineral Oils' group rose by 3.3 percent to 79.1 (provisional) from 76.6 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of LPG (10%), naphtha (8%), ATF (5%), petrol (3%), furnace oil, kerosene and HSD (2% each) and bitumen (1%).  However, the price of petroleum coke (1%) declined.

The index for manufactured products rose by 0.4 percent to 113.4 (provisional) from 112.9 (provisional) for the previous month.

The index for 'Manufacture of Food Products' group rose by 0.7 percent to 128.2 (provisional) from 127.3 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of copra oil (7%), processing & preserving of fish, crustaceans & molluscs & products thereof and gram powder (besan) (4% each), basmati rice (3%), salt, bagasse, rice bran oil, manufacture of health supplements, processed tea, powder milk, gur and ghee (2% each) and rice, non-basmati, castor oil, ice cream, soyabean oil, butter, palm oil, cotton seed oil, maida, sunflower oil, vanaspati and rice products (1% each).  However, the price of other meats, preserved/processed and honey (5% each), molasses and chicken/duck, dressed - fresh/frozen (4% each), groundnut oil (3%), buffalo meat, fresh/frozen and manufacture of cocoa, chocolate & sugar confectionery (2% each) and instant coffee, manufacture of prepared animal feeds, processing & preserving of fruit & vegetables, wheat bran, mustard oil, manufacture of macaroni, noodles, couscous & similar farinaceous products (1% each) declined.

The index for 'Manufacture of Beverages' group rose by 0.8 percent to 120.1 (provisional) from 119.1 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of bottled mineral water and aerated drinks/soft drinks (incl. soft drink concentrates) (2% each) and country liquor, beer and wine (1% each).