The following is the unedited transcript of the news release from Office of the Economic Adviser – Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India

Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices in India (Base: 1993-94=100)

Review for the week ended 14th June 2008

The official Wholesale Price Index for ''All Commodities'' (Base: 1993-94 = 100) for the week ended 14th June 2008 rose by 0.4 percent to 236.1 (Provisional) from 235.2 (Provisional) for the previous week.

The annual rate of inflation, calculated on point to point basis, stood at 11.42 percent (Provisional) for the week ended 14/06/2008 (over 16/06/2007) as compared to 11.05 percent (Provisional) for the previous week. The annual rate of inflation stood at 4.13 percent as on 16/06/2007 i.e. a year ago.

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

PRIMARY ARTICLES (Weight 22.02%)

The index for this major group rose by 0.2 percent to 243.0 (Provisional) from 242.5 (Provisional) for the previous week. The groups and items for which the index showed variations during the week are as follows:-

The index for ''Food Articles'' group rose by 0.2 percent to 232.1 (Provisional) from 231.6 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of tea (3%) and fish-marine, milk and maize (1% each). However, the prices of masur and fruits & vegetables (1% each) declined.

The index for ''Non-Food Articles'' group declined by 0.5 percent to 238.0 (Provisional) from 239.2 (Provisional) for the previous week due to lower prices of linseed (3%) and groundnut seed and raw cotton (2% each). However, the prices of niger seed (2%) and skins (raw), rape & mustard seed, raw rubber and raw silk (1% each) moved up.

The index for ''Minerals'' group rose by 3.6 percent to 652.6 (Provisional) from 630.1 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of metallic minerals (4%).

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

The index for this major group rose by 0.1 percent to 374.7 (Provisional) from 374.2 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of lubricants (19%).

MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS (Weight 63.75%)

The index for this major group rose by 0.6 percent to 202.8 (Provisional) from 201.6 (Provisional) for the previous week. The groups and items for which the index showed variations during the week are as follows:-

The index for ''Food Products'' group rose by 0.7 percent to 208.8 (Provisional) from 207.4 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of rice bran oil (6%), sunflower oil (4%), oilcakes and hydrogenated vanaspati (2% each) and imported edible oil, salt and rape & mustard oil (1% each). However, the prices of gur (1%) declined.

The index for ''Textiles'' group rose by 0.7 percent to 135.4 (Provisional) from 134.5 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of texturised yarn (16%) and synthetic yarn (3%). However, the prices of viscose filament yarn (1%) declined.

The index for ''Leather & Leather Products'' group rose by 1.1 percent to 168.3 (Provisional) from 166.5 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of footwear western type (1%).

The index for ''Chemicals & Chemical Products'' group rose by 1.4 percent to 217.0 (Provisional) from 214.0 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of benzene (22%), p.v.c. resins (17%), thinners and purified terephthalic acid (pta) (16% each), enamels (10%), household laundry soap (9%), toilet soap (8%), synthetic detergent and calcium ammonium nitrate n-content (7% each), methanol (2%) and varnishes, caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) and hair oil (1%). However, the prices of safety matches (2%) and toothpaste (1%) declined.

The index for ''Basic Metals, Alloys & Metal Products'' group rose by 0.3 percent to 296.8 (Provisional) from 295.8 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of steel wire ropes (36%) and steel wire (25%). However, the prices of lead ingots (2%) and zinc ingots (1%) declined.