Food inflation at an alarming 11.49%

India's food price index rose 11.49% and the fuel price index climbed 12.14% during the year, as on February 12, government data showed today.

Food inflation rose to 11.49% for the week ended February 12 from 11.05% in the previous week, driven by rising prices of milk, egg, meat and vegetables.

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The marginal rise in food inflation for the seven day period ended February 12 snaps a fortnight of consecutive decline during the weeks ended January 29 and February 5.

Food inflation stood at 21.82% in the corresponding year ago period.

As per the wholesale price index (WPI) data released on Thursday, prices of eggs, meat and fish rose by 14.79% in the week ended February 12.

Similarly, milk prices rose by about 17%. Vegetable prices rose by 15.89% in the week under review, despite a 9.72% decline in potato prices.

Wheat and pulses prices also dipped by 1.01% and 5.62%, respectively, during the week under review. Cereal and rice prices rose by 2.07% and 1.65%, respectively, during the week ended February 12.

As per the WPI data, inflation in primary articles was 15.77% for the week ended February 12, down from 21.82 % in the year ago period. Inflation in the non-food articles segment stood at 31.58% in the week ended February 12, as against 13.94 % in the same period last year.