Wholesale inflation rose to 2.37% in December 2024; was 1.89 percent in November last year

Wholesale price inflation in India marginally rose to 2.37% for December 2024 from the previous month's 1.89% as the prices of some food items and textiles, apart from other manufactured products, witnessed a rise. According to data released by the government on Tuesday, the rates of food, and clothing, amongst others, became dearer on a month-on-month basis. This is while the overall Wholesale Price Index showed a sequential drop of 0.38 percent compared to November.

The index for the primary articles category, which has a 22.62% share in the WPI, fell 2.07% every month. This led to a 3.08% softening in food prices and a 2.87% decline in crude petroleum and natural gas prices. Non-food articles rose by 2.53%, while mineral prices rose by 0.48%.

The fuel and power segment, which carries a weightage of 13.15%, gained 1.90% in December, led by an 8.81% rise in power prices and a marginal gain in coal. Mineral oil prices were down 0.06%. Manufactured products, which account for 64.23% of the index, held steady at 143.0 on a month-on-month basis.

The WPI food index, comprising food articles and manufactured food products, was back to 195.9 in December from 200.3 in November. Annual food inflation moderated marginally to 8.89% against 8.92% in the previous month.