The following is the unedited transcript of the news release from Office of the Economic Adviser, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, New Delhi

The official Wholesale Price Index for ''All Commodities'' (Base: 1993-94 = 100) for the month of February,2010 rose by 0.6 percent to 250.1 (Provisional) from 248.5 (Provisional) for the previous month.

INFLATION

The annual rate of inflation, based on monthly WPI, stood at 9.89% (Provisional) for the month of February, 2010 (over February, 2009) as compared to 8.56 % (Provisional) for the previous month and 3.50% during the corresponding month of the previous year. Build up inflation in the financial year so far was 9.60% compared to a build up of 0.93% in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Inflation for important commodities / commodity groups is indicated in Annex-1.

The movement of the index for the various commodity groups is summarized below:-

PRIMARY ARTICLES (Weight 22.02%)

The index for this major group remained unchanged at its previous month’s level of 284.7 (Provisional). The groups and items for which the index showed variations during the month are as follows:-

The index for ''Food Articles'' group declined by 0.1 percent to 286.1 (Provisional) from 286.4 (Provisional) for the previous month due to lower prices of tea (9%), arhar (7%), urad (6%), gram, masur and eggs (4% each), fruits & vegetables (2%) and fish-inland, maize, barley and ragi (1% each). However, the prices of fish-marine (5%), poultry chicken (4%), coffee (3%), pork and moong (2% each) and wheat, jowar and milk (1% each) moved up.

The index for ''Non-Food Articles'' group rose by 0.1 percent to 256.5 (Provisional) from 256.3 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of coir fibre (41%), gingelly seed (9%), mesta (8%), sunflower and niger seed (4% each), copra, raw jute and fodder (2% each) and groundnut seed (1%). However, the prices of logs & timber (7%), tobacco (4%), skins (raw) (3%), raw cotton and rape & mustard seed (2% each) and linseed and soyabean (1% each) declined.

The index for ''Minerals'' group rose by 0.8 percent to 596.3 (Provisional) from 591.6 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of barytes, iron ore, asbestos and steatite (1% each). However, the prices of magnesite (10%) and felspar (1%) declined.

FUEL, POWER, LIGHT & LUBRICANTS (Weight 14.23%)

The index for this major group rose by 1.5 percent to 356.9 (Provisional) from 351.5 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of non-coking coal (12%), coking coal (9%), high speed diesel oil and petrol (2% each) and light diesel oil, naphtha and furnace oil (1% each). However, the prices of bitumen (3%) and aviation turbine fuel (1%) declined.

MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS (Weight 63.75%)

The index for this major group rose by 0.6 percent to 214.3 (Provisional) from 213.0 (Provisional) for the previous month. The groups and items for which the index showed variations during the month are as follows:-

The index for ''Food Products'' group rose by 1.0 percent to 260.0 (Provisional) from 257.4 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of khandsari (6%), sugar (5%), bran (all kinds) (2%) and imported edible oil, skimmed milk powder, ghee, gur and salt (1% each). However, the prices of rice bran oil (8%), atta (4 %), oil cakes, cotton seed oil, coconut oil and rape & mustard oil (2% each) declined.

The index for ''Beverages Tobacco & Tobacco Products’ group rose by 0.4 percent to 312.3 (Provisional) from 311.0 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of soft drinks (all kinds) (3%), potable country liquor (2%) and cigarettes (1%).

The index for ''Textiles'' group rose by 0.9 percent to 154.6 (Provisional) from 153.2 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of cotton yarn-cones (3%) and hessian & sacking bags, polyester staple fibre, nylon filament yarn, cotton yarn-hanks, miscellaneous cotton cloth and synthetic yarn (1% each).

The index for ''Leather & Leather Products'' group declined by 0.8 percent to 164.4 (Provisional) from 165.8 (Provisional) for the previous month due to lower prices of footwear western type (1%).

The index for ''Rubber & Plastic Products'' group rose by 3.1 percent to 174.9 (Provisional) from 169.7 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of plastic items (28%), cycle tubes (9%), cycle tyres (6%), tractor tyres (4%), giant tyres (3%) and pvc fitting & accessories (2%). However, the prices of decorative laminates (1%) declined.