Retail inflation declines to 3.85 pc in February

New Delhi: Wholesale Price Index (WPI) based retail inflation for February, 2023 went down to 3.85 per cent compared to 4.73 per cent in the same period previous year.

Decline in the rate of inflation in February, 2023 is primarily contributed by fall in prices of crude petroleum & natural gas, non-food articles, food products, minerals, computer, electronic & optical products, chemicals & chemical products, electrical equipment and motor vehicles, trailers & semi-trailers. Prices of Food Articles (0.45%) increased in February, 2023 as compared to January, 2023. Prices of Minerals (-1.37%), Non-food Articles (-1.73%) and Crude Petroleum & Natural Gas (-5.42%) declined in February, 2023 as compared to January, 2023. The index for Fuel & Power increased by 1.93% to 158.8 (provisional) in February, 2023 from 155.8 (provisional) for the month of January, 2023. Prices of Mineral Oils (2.86%) and Coal (0.74%) increased in February.

The Food Index consisting of 'Food Articles' from Primary Articles group and 'Food Product' from Manufactured Products group have increased from 171.2 in January, 2023 to 171.3 in February, 2023. The rate of inflation based on WPI Food Index decreased from 2.95% in January, 2023 to 2.76% in February, 2023.

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