Food inflation shoots back to double digit at 11.4 pc

Food inflation, which was 9.53 per cent for the week ended July 24, had remained in single-digit for only a fortnight before bouncing back.

On a yearly basis, cereals registered a growth of 6.97 per cent, driven mainly by higher prices of pulses, rice and wheat.

While pulses became dearer by 20.74 per cent, prices of rice and wheat rose by 6.89 per cent and 7.93 per cent, respectively, during the week under review over the same period last year.

Among other food items, milk prices went up by 19.03 per cent during the week, compared to the same period last year.

Fruits became expensive by 7.42 per cent during the week under review.

After sliding for some months, onion prices also went up during the week, showing a marginal rise of 0.32 per cent.

However, on an yearly basis, potatoes became cheaper by 42.18 per cent, while vegetables overall saw a decline of 6.09 per cent.

Food inflation, which was over 20 per cent in December 2009, slipped to single digits in the third week of July.

The overall inflation, which includes change in prices of manufactured goods, was 10.55 per cent during June.