Retail Inflation shot up to Double Digit Mark at 10.32 percent in April 2012

As per official data at the retail level released on 18 May 2012, retail inflation shot up to the double digit mark at 10.32 percent in April 2012 on account of substantial increase in vegetable, edible oils and milk prices.

The retail inflation data showed that the surge in prices of vegetables was the greatest at 24.55 per cent in April year-on-year. Vegetables were followed by edible oils, the prices of which soared by 17.63 per cent while milk products were next in line with a 14.94 per cent increase in prices in April 2012.

As for the protein-rich items such as eggs, meat and fish, the year-on-year increase in prices were at 9.95 per cent. Prices of cereals however went up by a much smaller margin of 3.94 per cent during the month.

Sugar turned dearer by 4.32 per cent in April at the retail level while pulses became costlier 6.03 per cent as compared to the same month of 2011.

Overall prices of food and beverages grew by 10.18 per cent in April. Food inflation based on wholesale price entered into double-digit for the first time in six months. Food inflation grew to 10.49 per cent in April 2012 based on the wholesale price
Clothing, bedding and footwear became costlier by 11.95 per cent and prices of fuel and light grew by 11.40 per cent.

According to the CPI data, inflation rates for rural and urban areas were estimated at 9.86 per cent and 11.10 per cent, respectively, for April while the revised figures for the two segments for March was pegged at 8.70 per cent and 10.30 per cent, respectively.

Inflation based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the urban areas surged by 11.10 per cent in April year-on-year, while in rural area it grew by 9.86 per cent.