Food inflation rises marginally to 16.37%

Food inflation rose marginally to 16.37 per cent for the week ended October 2, on the back of higher prices of cereals, fruits, select vegetables and milk.

After falling in the previous week, food prices again took a northward trajectory and went up by 13 percentage points.

Food inflation was 16.24 per cent for the week ended September 25. As per the latest figures, food inflation was driven mainly by higher prices of pulses, rice and wheat.

Besides, vegetables became expensive by 19.84 per cent on annual basis, the highest increase in many months.

Official data released here showed that on an annual basis, cereals prices have risen by 5.06 per cent. Prices of pulses rose by 4.89 per cent on a yearly basis.

Also, wheat and rice became costlier by 6.88 per cent and 2.82 per cent, respectively.

Among other food items, milk prices soared by 21.65 per cent during the week compared to the same period last year, while fruits became dearer by 12.75 per cent.

Onion prices went up by 0.24 per cent year-on-year.

However, potato prices continued to fall and showed a decline of 49.36 per cent.