New Delhi, Sept 14 (FN Bureau) India’s wholesale inflation continued to be in the negative zone but increased marginally to (-) 0.52% year-on-year in August 2023 from (-) 1.36% in July 2023, data released by Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed on Monday. This is the fifth consecutive month of negative wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation.
“The negative rate of inflation in August, 2023 is primarily due to fall in prices of mineral oils, basic metals, chemical & chemical products, textiles and food products as compared to the corresponding month of previous year,” Commerce Ministry said in an official release on Thursday. The month-over-month change in WPI index for the month of August, 2023 stood at 0.33% as compared to July, 2023. The official data showed fuel and power basket inflation came in at (-) 6.03% in August from (-) 12.79% in the previous month. In the case of manufactured products, the inflation rate stood at (-) 2.37% in August 2023 as compared to (-) 2.51% in July this year. Food articles inflation in August 2023 stood in double-digit at 10.60%.