Retail inflation hits 16-month high in January at 5.69 %

New Delhi, February 12

Retail inflation touched 5.69 per cent in January — a 16-month high — as food became more expensive, most recent data from the Central Government showed on Friday.

Retail inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), stood at 5.61 per cent in December 2015 and 5.19 per cent in January 2015, Central Statistics Office’ under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation showed.

Such inflation figures were last scene in September 2014, when it rose to 6.46 per cent.

Food inflation, as measured by Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI), rose to 6.85 per cent in the first month of 2016, government data showed.

Retail prices of 'cereals and products' inched up by 2.19 per cent in January, from 2.12 per cent in December 2015.

The rate of price rise in meat and fish category was 8.23 per cent and for eggs was 3.96 per cent: an increase mainly attributed to their higher consumption during winter, although vegetable prices rose to 6.39 per cent.

Prices of pulses remained up, with inflation recorded at 42.32 per cent, according to the data released by the Central Statistics Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

The inflation rates stood at 6.48 per cent for rural areas and 4.81 per cent for urban areas.

The Central Government collects price data from select towns and villages. — PTI