The wholesale price index (WPI) Inflation declined further to 10.68% for the week ended Oct. 18, 2008, as compared to 11.07% in the week before, due to lower prices of fuel and manufactured goods.

Government`s fiscal and monetary measures have helped to moderate the rising prices.

The annual rate of inflation stood at 3.11% as on Oct. 20, 2007 i.e. a year ago.

Index for Primary Articles group declined by 0.3% from the previous week.

The index for Food Articles group rose by 0.2% from previous week`s level due to higher prices of bajra and maize (5% each), jowar (2%) and fruits & vegetables (1%). However, the prices of wheat and arhar (2% each) and urad (1%) declined.

Whereas, the index for Non-Food Articles group declined by 1.5% due to lower prices of raw rubber (8%), raw cotton (6%) and groundnut seed (1%). However, the prices of rape & mustard seed (1%) moved up.

The index for Fuel, Power, Light & Lubricants group declined by 0.4% in the week ended October 18, due to lower prices of furnace oil (6%) and light diesel oil (3%). However, the prices of bitumen (4%) moved up.

Index for Manufactured Goods declined by 0.1%. Food Products index declined by 0.5% due to lower prices of imported edible oil (4%), oilcakes (3%), rice bran oil and gingelly oil (2% each) and groundnut oil (1%). However, the prices of khandsari (4%) and gur (1%) moved up.
 
The index for `Beverages, Tobacco & Tobacco Products` group rose by 1% due to higher prices of bidi (5%).

Textiles group index declined marginally by 0.1% due to lower prices of texturised yarn (4%). However, the prices of hessian cloth and hessian & sacking bags (1% each) moved up.

At the same time, the index for Basic Metals, Alloys & Metal Products group declined marginally by 0.3% on account of lower prices of zinc (11%), lead ingots, basic pig iron and foundary pig iron (3% each), zinc ingots and ms bars & rounds (2% each) and steel sheets, plates & strips (1%).