The annual rate of inflation stood at 5.73 per cent a year ago. The wholesale price index for ‘all commodities’ for the week ended December 15 declined by 0.1 per cent to 215.6 (provisional) from 215.9 (provisional) for the previous week.

While the prices of fruits and vegetables declined by 2 per cent, textile prices and cotton yarn also fell by 5.9 per cent  and 7.7 per cent respectively. However, prices of poultry chicken went up by 2 per cent and that of urad, condiments and spices by 1 per cent each. The prices of beverages, tobacco, and tobacco products rose by 3.3 per cent due to jump in prices of cigarettes (8 per cent) and potable country liquor (6 per cent).