Costlier fuels, including LPG, pushed up inflation to 5.38 per cent for the week ended December 6 -- the fourth week in a row that saw rising inflation -- even as prices of vegetables, rice and some edible oils declined.
The wholesale price index inflation rose by 0.13 per cent from the previous week's mark of 5.25 per cent despite cheaper mass consumption primary articles and manufactured products prices remaining firm for the second consecutive week. The index was only 3.27 per cent a year-ago, showing the extent of increased costs of living.
The WPI rose marginally by 0.1 per cent to 176.4 points even as prices rose for naphtha, imported edible oils, cement and tea. The index was at 167.4 points in the previous year.
The government revised upwards the point-to-point inflation to 5.01 per cent for the week ended October 11 as compared to the provisional level of 4.95 per cent.
Final WPI stood corrected at 176 points during the second week of October as against the provisional figure of 175.9 points.
A substantial 0.5 per cent dip in the price of food items pushed down the index for primary products' group by 0.4 per cent to 181.3 points, even as there was 0.2 per cent price rise for non-food articles. The index was at 175.9 points during the year ago period.
Food articles' group index plummeted to 182.7 points on account of cheaper vegetables (three per cent), rice (two per cent), jowar, and condiments and spices (one per cent each).
But prices increased for tea (seven per cent), bajra (three per cent) and gram (one per cent).