Expensive crude increased difficulty: Wholesale inflation highest in four months, prices increased due to disruption of global supply chain due to Russia-Ukraine war

Posted on 19th Apr 2022 by rohit kumar

Wholesale price-based (WPI) inflation rose to 14.55 percent in March, driven by a rise in crude oil and commodity (commodity) prices. This is the four-month high level of wholesale inflation since November 2021. The wholesale inflation at that time was 14.87 percent. However, the prices of vegetables have come down in March.

 

 

According to the data released on Monday by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the rate of wholesale inflation was 13.11 percent in February this year and 7.89 percent in March 2021. The ministry said that the rate of inflation remained high in March 2022 due to an increase in the prices of crude oil, natural gas, mineral oil, base metals, etc. Inflation has also increased due to the disruption of global supply chains due to the Russo-Ukraine war. Due to rising inflation, RBI may increase policy rates in the coming days.

 

 

Food prices down

According to the data, the common people got some relief due to the reduction in the prices of food items in March. Food inflation declined marginally to 8.06 percent during this period. In February 2022, this rate was 8.19 percent. Inflation in vegetables declined to 19.88 percent from 26.93 percent in February. The prices of pulses, wheat, paddy, potato, milk, egg, meat, and fish have also come down during this period.

 

Fuel prices increased by 35.42 percent

Fuel and electricity prices increased by 35.42 percent last month. Crude oil inflation rose to 83.56 percent in March from 55.17 percent in February. Inflation in manufactured goods rose to 10.71 percent during this period. In February 2022, the inflation rate of these items was 9.84 percent.

 

WPI in double digits for 12th consecutive month

 

period                    inflation rate

April 2021              10.44%

May 2021               12.94 percent

June 2021              12.07 percent

July 2021               11.16 percent

August 2021           11.39 percent

September 2021     10.66%

October 2021         12.54 percent

November 2021      14.23%

December 2021     13.56 percent

January 2022        12.96 percent

February 2022       13.11%

March 2022           14.55%

 

Estimated to reach 15 percent in April

 

The prices of products like edible oil have not come down substantially despite forecasts of a normal monsoon. In April, wholesale inflation is likely to remain in the range of 13.5-15 percent. However, it will depend on how crude oil prices remain for the rest of the current month. Rising inflation could be of particular concern to the Monetary Policy Committee of the RBI.

 

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