New Delhi, 21 August 2008: Rising prices of food items like fruits, vegetables and milk pushed up inflation to 12.63% for the week ended August 9 from 12.44% a week ago.

Items that pushed up the wholesale prices-based inflation by 0.19% include tea, pulses, cotton yarn and cement.

Inflation was 4.24% during the corresponding week last year.

"Annual inflation of 30 essential commodities, however, continues to be range bound 5.7% to 6.7% in 19 weeks of the current fiscal," said a Finance Ministry statement.

While prices of cotton yarn was up by 8% during the week, polyester became dearer by 7%.

In food basket, tea became costlier by 2% and milk turned expensive by 1%. Prices of pulses and mustard oil too firmed up by 1% each.

Prices of imported edible oil, however, declined by 6%, while sunflower oil too became cheaper by 2% during the week.

In addition, prices of sea fish, egg and meat too declined marginally during the week.

The annual rate of inflation for the week ended June 14, when the impact of increase in prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas became visible, was revised from 11.42% to 11.80%.

Courtesy: PTI