WPI surges to four month high of 5.28% in October on dearer fuel

Higher inflation in manufactured products and fuel made India’s wholesale price inflation (WPI) surge to 5.28% in October from 5.13% in September, data released by the commerce and industry ministry on Wednesday showed.

WPI was 3.68% in October last year.

Inflation in fuel and power rose 18.44% from 16.65% in September and that in manufactured products 4.49% in October from 4.22% in the trailing month.


“The rate of inflation based on WPI Food Index consisting of ‘food articles’ from primary articles group and ‘food product’ from manufactured products group decreased from 0.14% in September, 2018 to -0.64% in October, 2018,” the ministry said in an official release.

Inflation in cereals, wheat and potato increased 6.24%, 9.49% and 93.65%, respectively while the growth of inflation in paddy slowed to 4.08% in October.

Data released on Monday showed a decline in India’s retail inflation to 3.31% in October from 3.7% in September

In the wholesale basket, the pace of decline in inflation slowed for pulses but rose in onions and, eggs and meat.