New Delhi, May 14 (HS): Following a decline in retail inflation, wholesale inflation has also recorded a decrease. In April, the wholesale inflation rate dropped from 2.05 percent to 0.85 percent, marking the lowest level in 13 months. Previously, in March 2024, the wholesale inflation rate was at 0.53 percent.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry reported on Wednesday that the wholesale inflation rate, based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), decreased to 0.85 percent in April due to reductions in the prices of food items, manufactured products, and fuels. The decrease in the prices of daily necessities and food items has led to the decline in the wholesale inflation rate. It was 2.05 percent in March and 1.19 percent in April 2024. The wholesale inflation rate for February 2025 has been revised upward from 2.38 percent to 2.45 percent. Additionally, the WPI-based inflation was 2.05 percent in March and 1.19 percent in April 2024.

Food inflation stood at 0.86 percent in April, down from 1.57 percent in March. In April, the inflation rate for vegetables was 18.26 percent, while it was 15.88 percent in March. Onion inflation decreased to 0.20 percent in April from 26.65 percent in March. However, the inflation rate for manufactured products in April remained at 2.62 percent, compared to 3.07 percent in March. In the fuel and electricity sector, inflation was at 2.18 percent in April, up from 0.20 percent in March.

The Reserve Bank of India has estimated to maintain the retail inflation rate around 4 percent for the current financial year. However, due to the softening of prices for vegetables, fruits, and pulses, the retail inflation rate dropped to approximately 3.16 percent in April, reaching a nearly six-year low— the lowest level since July 2019 when it was 3.15 percent.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar