October WPI inflation up 3.59%; auto industry rises 0.1%

The latest annual rate of inflation based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for October 2017, came at 3.59 percent an increase of 2.32 percent (October 2016: 1.27%), while it rose 1.05 percent in compared to the previous month (September 2017: 2.60%), according to data released by the government.

According to the index for 'Manufacture of Motor Vehicles, Trailers and Semi-Trailers' the inflation rose by 0.1 percent to 110.6 (provisional) from 110.5 (provisional) in the previous month due to higher price of brake pad, brake liner, brake block, brake rubber, others (3%) and minibus/bus, axles of motor vehicles, piston ring/piston & compressor, radiators & coolers and crankshaft (1% each).  On the other hand the price of body (for commercial motor vehicles) declined 5 percent and chain 1 percent each.

On the energy front, the index for ‘Mineral oils’ increased 3.9 percent to 82.2 (provisional) from 79.1 (provisional) in the previous month. This rise was due to increase in prices of LPG (9%), naptha, petroleum coke and ATF (8% each), furnace oil (7%), kerosene (5%) and bitumen, HSD and petrol (2% each).

Even the index for electricity saw an increase of 4 percent to 106.1 (provisional) from 102.0 (provisional) reported the previous month.