Food prices mount as August inflation rises to 6.1%

New Delhi, Sep 16 – Inflation rose at the fastest pace for six months in August, driven by an 18% jump in food prices, a reminder of the economic pressure new central bank governor Raghuram Rajan faces ahead of his first policy meeting this week.

 

Government data on Monday showed a reading of 6.1%, higher than the 5.80% rate estimated by analysts in a Reuters poll. Food prices soared 18.18%.

 

The wholesale price index, India's main inflation measure, rose an annual 5.79% in July.

 

The reading for June was revised to 5.16% from 4.86%, data released by the ministry of commerce and industry showed.

 

TOI