The point-to-point inflation rate based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for all commodities (base: 1993-94 = 100) continued its rise to stand above 8 per cent mark from 7.45 per cent in the previous week and a mere 2.53 per cent a year ago.

The WPI rose by 0.3 per cent to 157.8 from the previous week's level of 157.3 and 146.1 a year ago. The final WPI for the week ending October 14 stood at 157.8 as against the provisional index of 157.3.

The final inflation rate during the second week of October stood at 7.20 per cent as against the provisional level of 6.86 per cent.

Primary articles became costlier by 1.1 per cent and so did the manufactured items by 0.1 per cent, while fuel items continued to remain unchanged.

Primary articles' group index rose to 163.2 from 161.4 a week ago due to a sharp 2.6 per cent increase in the prices of non-food items and a 0.6 per cent increase in food items. The index was 156 a year ago.

The index for food articles' group rose to 170.4 from 169.4 due to costlier fruits and vegetables and inland fish (3 per cent each), maize, gram and poultry chicken (2 per cent each) and rice and barley (1 per cent each).

However, prices declined in the case of bajra and coffee (4 per cent each) and urad and condiments and spices (1 per cent each).

The index for non-food articles' group escalated to 148.9 from 145.1 on account of higher prices for sugarcane (11 per cent), fodder (2 per cent) and raw silk (1 per cent).

Fuel, power, light and lubricants' group index continued to remain firm for the second consecutive week at the previous figure of 217.9. However, the index was just 167.2 a year ago.

(PTI)