Food inflation eases to 10.35 per cent

Food inflation eased to 10.35 percent for the week ended Aug 7 from 11.4 per cent a week earlier. The easing in prices of some pulses, and a sharp drop in prices of vegetables, potatoes, and onions helped temper the overall food index.

Food inflation eased to 10.35 percent for the week ended Aug 7 from 11.4 per cent a week earlier, official data released on Thursday showed.

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The easing in prices of some pulses, and a sharp drop in prices of vegetables, potatoes, and onions helped temper the overall food index.

The fuel prices index, continued with its declining trend, dropping to 12.57 per cent in the week under review as against 12.66 per cent recorded in the previous week, data released by the commerce ministry showed.

The primary articles index also rose at a slower rate at 14.85 per cent, compared to the previous week's increase of 15.66 per cent.

Following are the rise and fall in prices of some of the main commodities that form the sub-index for food articles over the past 52 weeks:

Cereals: 7.4 per cent

Rice: 8.27 per cent

Wheat: 7.63 per cent

Pulses: 18.32 per cent

Vegetables: (-) 22.12 per cent

Fruits: 16.74 per cent

Milk: 19.03 per cent

Potatoes: (-) 49.81 per cent

Onions: (-) 6.91 per cent

According to recently released figures, wholesale price inflation, the measure for overall increase in prices, was at 9.97 per cent in July.

The rise in inflation has forced the Reserve Bank of India grow increasingly hawkish in its monetary policy action. It had raised key interest rates by 25 basis points in its quarterly review in June.

The still high inflation could force another hike, something that the central bank has said it would not shy away from.