CPI inflation surges by 14.19 percent in January

The CPI inflation surged by 14.19 percent in January 2011 over the corresponding period of the last year with prices of perishable food items soaring to 44.39 percent, according to Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS). Official figures of Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation released by the FBS here on Tuesday showed a decline of 1.30 percent in inflation which was largely attributed to the change in base effect.
Analysts fear that increase in the prices of daily kitchen items may push more people into poverty. Analysis of the data revealed that food inflation surged by 20.42 percent in January 2011 over the same period of the last year with prices of non-perishable food items going up by 17.27 percent and perishable food items by 44.39 percent. The cost of apparel, textile and footwear increased by 12.37 percent in January 2011 as compared to the same month of last year, house rent by 6.56 percent, fuel and lighting by 8.8 percent, household furniture by 10.43 percent, transport and communication by 13 percent, recreation and entertainment by 13.78 percent, education by 5.28 percent, Medicare 16.15 percent and cleaning and laundry by 10.71 percent.
According to official data CPI July-January 2010-11 remained at 14.55 percent as compared to the same period last fiscal. Compared to January 2010, the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) increased 18.80 percent and Wholesale Price Index (WPI) increased by 22.60 percent on the year on year basis. The main commodities, which showed an increase in prices during January 2011 over December, 2010 are as under:
Food & beverages: Spices (43.87%), tomatoes (25.13%), eggs (8.34%), vegetable ghee (7.88%), cooking oil (7.06%), fresh fruits (6.85%), tea (4.92%), rice (4.44%), fish (4.39%), mustard oil (4.31%), chicken farm (3.54%), sweetmeat & nimco (2.92%), bakery & confectionery (2.41%), dry fruit (1.83%), cereals (1.74%), readymade food (1.68%), milk fresh (1.50%), betel leaves & nuts (1.49%), meat (1.36%), beverages (1.27%), besan (1.14%) and milk powder (1.00%).
Apparel, textile & footwear: Hosiery (2.78%), silk, linen, woolen/cloth (1.72%), woolen readymade garments (1.16%), cotton cloth (1.03%) and readymade garments (1.01%).
Fuel & lighting: Firewood (3.81%) and natural gas/LPG (1.07%).
Household, furniture & equipment etc: Marriage hall (2.25%), utensils (1.98%), sewing machine, clock & needles (1.56%), household equipments (1.26%), furnishing (1.25%) and plastic products (1.05%).
Transport & communication: Tyre & tube (1.86%). Medicare:- Doctor''s fee (1.97%).