Vegetable prices ease, food inflation falls sharply to 6.60%

**New Delhi:**Food inflation fell sharply to 6.60 percent for the week ended November 26, reflecting a decline in prices of essential items like vegetables, onions, potatoes and wheat.

Food inflation, as measured by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), stood at 8 percent in the previous week ended November 19. It was recorded at 8.93 percent in the corresponding period last year.

[caption id=“attachment_150778” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Food inflation, as measured by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), stood at 8 percent in the previous week ended November 19. Reuters”] [/caption]

According to data released by the government today, onions became cheaper by 39.20 per cent year-on-year during the week under review, while potato prices were down by 15.75

percent. Prices of wheat also fell by 4.70 percent.

Overall, vegetables became cheaper by 1.25 percent, a big relief after double-digit inflation in vegetable prices during the months of September and October.

However, other food products grew more expensive on an annual basis, led by protein-based items. Pulses became 13 percent costlier during the week under review, while milk grew dearer by 11.02 percent and eggs, meat and fish by 10.04 percent.

Fruits also became 10.72 percent more expensive on an annual basis, while cereal prices were up by 1.68 percent.

Inflation in the overall primary articles category stood at 6.92 per cent during the week ended November 26, as against 7.74 percent in the previous week. Primary articles have over 20 percent weight in the wholesale price index.

Inflation in the non-food segment, which includes fibres, oilseeds and minerals, was recorded at 1.37 per cent during the week under review, as against 2.14 per cent in the week ended November 19.

PTI