Wholesale Inflation: Know How Much Prices Of Fruits, Vegetables, Pulses, Edible Oil & Eggs Increased

With the rapid rise in prices, WPI inflation in the fuel and power segment rose to 37.61 percent in May from 20.94 percent in April. Inflation based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) also climbed up to 12.94 percent in May.

Wholesale Inflation | File Image

New Delhi: Coronavirus on one hand and rising inflation on the other has made life miserable for the common man. According to data from the National Statistical Office (NSO), retail inflation rose to 6.3 percent in May, the highest in six months, due to the increase in the prices of food items like edible oils, fruits, and eggs.

In April, inflation stood at 4.23 percent while food inflation stood at 5.01 percent in May.

Wholesale Inflation Increasing For 5 Months In A Row

Inflation based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) climbed up to 12.94 percent in May. The reason for this is the increase in the prices of crude oil and manufactured goods and last year's COVID-19 lockdown.

Earlier, in November 2020, the highest rate of retail inflation was 6.93 percent. In May 2020, wholesale inflation was at a negative 3.7 percent, while in April 2021, it reached a double-digit figure of 10.49 percent. This is the fifth month in a row where the wholesale inflation rate has increased.

What Became More Expensive Between April-May 2021?

• Fuel prices up by 38 percent
• 10 percent increase in the prices of pulses
• The price of edible oil increased by 30 percent
• Fruits became 12% costlier
• Eggs and soft drinks prices shot up by 15%

The prices of meat and fish, eggs, fruits, pulses, and related products have increased by 9.03 percent, 15.16 percent, 11.89 percent, and 9.39 percent respectively on an annual basis.

Inflation in the fuel and power category has increased to 11.58 percent. With the rapid rise in prices, WPI inflation in the fuel and power segment rose to 37.61 percent in May from 20.94 percent in April.

Price Of Onions Kept Rising

In the case of manufactured products, wholesale inflation stood at 10.8 percent in May (compared to 9.01 percent in the previous month). However, in the case of food articles, wholesale inflation declined marginally to 4.31 percent in May. During the same period, the price of onions increased. Onion prices escalated by 23.24 percent in May, while they declined by 19.72 percent in April.