Wholesale inflation at 4-month high of 2.4% in October – Times of India-OxBig News Network

NEW DELHI: Wholesale price inflation jumped to a four-month high in Oct as food prices, led by vegetables, shot up, posing a fresh challenge for authorities battling stubborn price pressures.
Data released by the commerce & industry ministry on Thursday showed inflation, as measured by the wholesale price index (WPI), rose an annual 2.4% in Oct, higher than the 1.8% in Sept. The ministry said inflation in Oct is primarily due to the increase in prices of food articles, manufactured food products, other manufacturing, manufacture of machinery and equipment, manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers, among others.
Inflation in vegetables rose an annual 63% during the month, while potato price shot up 78.7%. The pace of price increase in onions moderated as it rose by 39.3%, slower than the 67.4% in Oct last year.
Inflation in food articles soared to double digits, rising by 13.5%, way above the 3.2% in Oct 2023. Within the manufactured product group, vegetable and animal oils and fats shot up 20.2% from a contraction of 18.4% last year. Stubborn food inflation, particularly in vegetables, edible oils and some cereals, has hurt household budgets.