WHOLESALE PRICE INDEX (WPI)-BASED INFLATION

May 18, 2022

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation rate surged to a record high of 15.1 per cent in April, with rise in prices of vegetables, fruits, milk and fuel, government data released showed.

Causes:

  • The heatwave led to a spike in prices of perishables such as fruits, vegetables and milk, which, along with a spike in tea prices, pushed up primary food inflation.
  • The core-WPI inflation rose to a four-month high of 11.1% in April, with producers forced to pass on the input price pressures. Fuel inflation rose to 38.66 per cent, while inflation for manufactured products rose to 10.85 per cent.
  • Much of the inflation spike is being seen as a result of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with the contribution in retail inflation being seen at three-fourths of the index.

Impact

  • WPI inflation has been in double digits for the thirteenth months in a row now.
  • With WPI inflation remaining in double-digits, the probability of a repo hike in the June monetary policy has risen further.
Source : The Hindu

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