The average index for the period of April-September is higher by 5.8 per cent over the corresponding period of the last fiscal, according to the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), department of statistics & programme implementation. CPI(UNME) is based on the indices for 59 selected urban centres in the country.

The rise in metropolitan cities was between 3 to 4 per cent. Chennai experienced the highest rise at 3.79 per cent, followed by Delhi (3.72 per cent), Mumbai (3.52 per cent) and Calcutta (3.1 per cent).

CPI(UNME) uses 1984-85 as the base year. The rise in the index varies between -0.6 per cent and 23.2 per cent for all urban centres for the month of September. Siliguri suffered the biggest price hike, at 23.2 per cent, while in Bhavnagar the index registered the lowest growth. Four centres showed no rise in prices or registered a decline. In 18 centres, CPI(UNME) grew at a moderate rate of 0.1-3 per cent. The index rose by 3.1-6 per cent for 25 centres and by 6.1-9 per cent for seven centres. Five centres registered a growth rate of more than 9.1 per cent. As many as 31 centres have a rate lower than that of the annual percentage, while 27 centres have a higher percentage.