WPI food inflation declines in April to 3.60 per cent

Union Government yesterday released truncated data for April wholesale price-based inflation saying there was limited transaction of products in the market due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

As per the data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry, Wholesale Price Index (WPI) deflation in primary articles was 0.79 per cent in April, as against an inflation of 3.72 per cent in March.

The fuel and power basket saw a deflation of 10.12 per cent in April, against 1.76 per cent deflation in the previous month.

The rate of inflation based on WPI Food Index decreased from 5.49 per cent in March, 2020 to 3.60 per



cent in April, 2020.

An official statement said, all commodities WPI could not be computed for April-2020 due to non-availability of manufactured product group index. It added, the price indices of primary articles have been computed based on mandi prices of agricultural items, ex-mine prices of minerals, prices of crude petroleum and natural gas.

With regard to inflation in manufactured products, the Ministry said in view of the lockdown, the price collection of manufactured products through personal visits of price collectors was suspended with effect from 19 th of March.