GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & …

1 This press release is embargoed against publication, telecast or circulation in any media till 12:00 noon today 15th January, 2018 GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY OFFICE OF THE ECONOMIC ADVISER Index Numbers of Wholesale Price in INDIA (Base: 2011-12=100) Review for the month of December, 2017 The official Wholesale Price Index for All Commodities (Base: 2011-12=100) for the month of December, 2017 declined by percent to ( provisional ) from ( provisional ) for the previous month. INFLATION The annual rate of inflation, based on monthly WPI, stood at ( provisional ) for the month of December, 2017 (over December, 2016) as compared to ( provisional ) for the previous month and during the corresponding month of the previous year.

2 Build up inflation rate in the financial year so far was compared to a build up rate of in the corresponding period of the previous year Inflation for important commodities / commodity groups is indicated in Annex-1 and Annex-II. The movement of the index for the various commodity groups is summarized below:- PRIMARY ARTICLES (Weight ) The index for this major group declined by percent to ( provisional ) from ( provisional ) for the previous month. The groups and items which showed variations during the month are as follows:- The index for Food Articles group declined by percent to ( provisional ) from ( provisional ) for the previous month due to lower price of fruits & vegetables (14%), peas/chawali (6%), gram and egg (5% each), rajma and poultry chicken (4% each), coffee and fish-inland (3% each), urad and tea (2% each) and maize and masur (1% each).

3 However, the price of betel leaves (16%), bajra (3%), jowar, barley and condiments & spices (2% each) and arhar, moong and pork (1% each) moved up. The index for Non-Food Articles group rose by percent to ( provisional ) from ( provisional ) for the previous month due to higher price of floriculture (19%), copra (coconut) (8%), raw silk, gingelly seed and guar seed (7% each), raw cotton (6%), raw wool and raw rubber (4% each), hides (raw) and soyabean (3% each), cotton seed, rape & mustard seed and castor seed (2% each) and raw jute, skins (raw), sunflower and coir fibre (1% each). However, the price of mesta and fodder (8% each), groundnut seed (3%), safflower (kardi seed) (2%) and niger seed and linseed (1% each) declined.

4 The index for Minerals group declined by percent to ( provisional ) from ( provisional ) for the previous month due to lower price of copper concentrate (14%), lead concentrate and zinc concentrate (7% each). However, the price of chromite (9%), manganese ore (6%), bauxite (3%) and phosphorite (1%) moved up. The index for Crude Petroleum & Natural Gas group rose by percent to ( provisional ) from ( provisional ) for the previous month due to higher price of crude petroleum (7%). However, the price of natural gas (1%) declined. FUEL & POWER (Weight ) The index for this major group rose by percent to ( provisional ) from ( provisional ) for the previous month The groups and items which showed variations during the month are as follows:- The index for Coal group rose by percent to ( provisional ) from ( provisional ) for the previous month due to higher price of lignite (18%).

5 The index for Mineral Oils group rose by percent to ( provisional ) from ( provisional ) for the previous month due to higher price of bitumen (12%), ATF (7%), naphtha (6%), furnace oil (5%), kerosene (3%), HSD and petrol (2% each) and LPG (1%). MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS (Weight ) This press release is embargoed against publication, telecast or circulation in any media till 12:00 noon today 15th January, 2018 The index for this major group rose by percent to ( provisional ) from ( provisional ) for the previous month. The groups and items which showed variations during the month are as follows:- The index for Manufacture of Food Products' group declined by percent to ( provisional ) from ( provisional ) for the previous month due to lower price of molasses (20%), gur and gram powder (besan) (6% each), sugar, honey and powder milk (4% each), coffee powder with chicory and bagasse (3% each), processed tea, maida and sooji (rawa) (2% each) and chicken/duck, dressed-fresh/frozen, basmati rice and instant coffee (1% each).

6 However, the price of processing & preserving of fish, crustaceans & molluscs & products thereof, copra oil and other meats, preserved/processed (4% each), manufacture of macaroni, noodles, couscous & similar farinaceous products (3%), cotton seed oil, wheat bran, spices (including mixed spices) and buffalo meat, fresh/frozen (2% each) and mustard oil, sunflower oil, rice bran oil, groundnut oil, castor oil, vanaspati, palm oil, rice (non-basmati), manufacture of cocoa, chocolate & sugar confectionery and processing & preserving of fruit & vegetables (1% each) moved up. The index for Manufacture of Beverages group rose by percent to ( provisional ) from ( provisional ) for the previous month due to higher price of bottled mineral water (3%) and aerated drinks/soft drinks ( drink concentrates) (2%).

7 However, the price of wine, beer and spirits (1% each) declined. The index for Manufacture of Tobacco Products' group declined by percent to ( provisional ) from ( provisional ) for the previous month due to lower price of cigarette (10%). However, the price of other tobacco products (3%) and biri (1%) moved up. The index for Manufacture of Textiles group declined by percent to ( provisional ) from ( provisional ) for the previous month due to lower price of manufacture of cordage, rope, twine & netting and weaving & finishing of textiles (2% each). However, the price of viscose yarn (2%) and manufacture of other textiles, woollen yarn, texturised & twisted yarn, manufacture of knitted & crocheted fabrics, cotton yarn and synthetic yarn (1% each) moved up.

8 The index for Manufacture of Wearing Apparel group rose by percent to ( provisional ) from ( provisional ) for the previous month due to higher price of manufacture of knitted & crocheted apparel (3%). The index for 'Manufacture of Leather and Related Products group rose by percent to ( provisional ) from ( provisional ) for the previous month due to higher price of belt & other articles of leather (6%) and leather shoe and travel goods, handbags, office bags, etc. (1% each). However, the price of harness, saddles & other related items (2%) and vegetable tanned leather and chrome tanned leather (1% each) declined.

9 The index for Manufacture of Wood and of Products of Wood and Cork group declined by percent to ( provisional ) from ( provisional ) for the previous month due to lower price of wooden board (non-electrical) (10%), wooden box/crate (6%), wooden block-compressed or not and timber/wooden plank, sawn/resawn (3% each) and wooden splint (1%). However, the price of wood cutting, processed/sized and plywood block boards (1% each) moved up. The index for Manufacture of Paper and Paper Products group rose by percent to ( provisional ) from ( provisional ) for the previous month due to higher price of tissue paper (3%) and paper carton/box, newsprint, base paper, bristle paper board, paper for printing & writing and kraft paper (1% each).

10 However, the price of corrugated sheet box and duplex paper (1% each) declined. The index for Printing and Reproduction of Recorded Media group rose by percent to ( provisional ) from ( provisional ) for the previous month due to higher price of newspaper (3%), journal/periodical (2%) and printed labels/posters/calendars, sticker plastic and printed form & schedule (1% each). However, the price of hologram (3d) (3%) declined. The index for Manufacture of Chemicals and Chemical Products group rose by percent to ( provisional ) from ( provisional ) for the previous month due to higher price of menthol (23%), camphor (11%), acetic acid & its derivatives (7%), sulphuric acid (6%), oleoresin (5%), sodium silicate, hydrogen peroxide and organic solvent (4% each), shampoo, ammonium sulphate, acrylic fibre, ammonia liquid, nitric acid, ethyl acetate, caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) and alkyl benzene (3% each), rubber chemicals, fatty acid, organic chemicals, dye stuff/dyes incl.