Thursday, February 19, 2009

Inflation slided to 3.92%

Inflation eased to a 13-month low of 3.92% for the week ended February 7 on the back of a sharp fall in the prices of edible oils and
manufactured products. An ET poll had forecast that the inflation would fall to 3.91% for the week from 4.38% in the week before and 4.97% in the corresponding week last year. Inflation based on the wholesale price index has eased sharply from a 16-year peak of 12.91% in August 2008, due to a sharp fall in commodity prices
and a slowing demand. The drop in inflation has led to renewed calls for aggressive rate cuts to boost the flagging economy.