Inflation soars to 17-month high of 6.95% in March
New Delhi, April 12
Costlier food items pushed the retail inflation to a 17-month high of 6.95% in March, much above the upper tolerance level of the Reserve Bank, according to government data released on Tuesday.
This is the third consecutive month that the Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation remained above the 6% mark. The previous high of 7.61% was recorded in October 2020. The inflation in the food basket shot up to 7.68% in March 2022, from 5.85% in the preceding month.
The RBI’s tolerance limit of retail inflation is 4% with a 2% margin on either side. On a quarterly basis, the retail inflation during January-March works out to be 6.34%.
The RBI has forecast average CPI inflation at 6.3% in April-June and 5.8% in July-September. But the prognosis is based on crude oil and other commodity prices declining to levels prevailing before the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out.
In another set of data, the government said the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew by 1.7% in February.
Food inflation shoots up to 7.68%
- Inflation in the food basket shot up to 7.68% from 5.85% in February
- The RBI’s tolerance limit of retail inflation is 4% with a 2% margin on either side
- On a quarterly basis, the retail inflation during January-March works out to be 6.34%
Factory output up 1.7% in February
- Factory output rose 1.7% in February on account of rise in the mining sector and power generation
- The manufacturing sector recorded a growth of 0.8%
- The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) had declined 3.2% in February 2021
