Inflation rises on costlier food

While the price rise in the food and beverages category was at 5.34 per cent in October, inflation in cereals and products was also higher at 1.46 per cent. Retail inflation in vegetables and fruits stood at 2.42 per cent and 1.98 per cent respectively in October. However, among other protein rich items such as meat and fish, the rate of price rise has slowed to 5.01 per cent.

In the Index of Indus-trial Production (IIP), the manufacturing sector, which constitutes over 75 per cent of the index, grew by 2.6 per cent in September, 2015, against 2.7 per cent expansion

in the same month last year. The output of consumer non-durable goods contracted 4.6 per cent in the month under review against a growth of 1.3 per cent in September 2014.

Overall consumer goods output grew by 0.6 per cent in September 2015 against a contraction of four per cent in the same month a year ago. Consumer durables output grew at 8.4 per cent in September 2015 against a contraction of 11.1 per cent in the same month a year ago. Power generation grew at 11.4 per cent in September against 3.9 per cent in the same month a year ago.

Commenting on the numbers, industry body CII said: “Despite the moderation in September industrial growth compared to the previous month, we expect a pick up in the third quarter. The data indicates that demand for products such as passenger cars and two-wheelers have been strong in the run-up to the festive season.”