Active Stocks
Thu Mar 28 2024 15:59:33
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 155.90 2.00%
  1. ICICI Bank share price
  2. 1,095.75 1.08%
  1. HDFC Bank share price
  2. 1,448.20 0.52%
  1. ITC share price
  2. 428.55 0.13%
  1. Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
  2. 277.05 2.21%
Business News/ Politics / News/  Food inflation unacceptably high: FM
BackBack

Food inflation unacceptably high: FM

Food inflation unacceptably high: FM

Premium

New Delhi: Terming food inflation as unacceptably high, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said he will meet his state counterparts on 19 January to discuss ways to rein in the rising food prices.

“Food inflation at this level is not acceptable and we are trying our best to control it along with the cooperation of state governments," Mukherjee told reporters here.

He said he would be meeting the state finance ministers on 19 January to discuss among other issues, price rise.

Food inflation fell for the first time in six-week to 16.91% for the week ended 1 January, but still remains high as vegetables like onion, and protein-based items turned expensive.

Rising food prices also pushed up overall inflation for December to 8.43%, from 7.48% in the previous month.

“WPI month wise has been moderating though it is more than it was in month of November... But it is little less than month of October," he said.

In October, the WPI inflation was 9.12%.

The finance minister said inflation is an economic phenomenon which may have monetary factors behind it.

He said it could be caused by mismatch between demand and supply or international scenario such as crude prices.

Mukherjee said in the event of wide fluctuation in global petroleum prices, no amount of domestic policy measures could drastically bring it down.

Though consumers could be helped by increasing subsidies in petroleum products, it would fuel inflation in the long run, the finance minister said.

“You can help consumers, but providing subsidies...is not helping inflation in long run," the finance minister said.

Fuel and power inflation rose to 11.19% in December from 10.32% in the previous month.

The finance minister said he would have pre-budget interactions with state counterparts on Wednesday, where the issue of inflation would also be discussed.

“On 19th January I am having a meeting with the state finance ministers in connection with ensuing budget...I will also raise this inflation issue in the meeting. This is a continuing battle," he said.

The finance minister said he himself had written letters to states asking them to remove supply bottlenecks in food products.

Mukherjee said the monthly wholesale prices have been declining since August, even as weekly food inflation numbers continued to be volatile.

“I am emphasising on the way weekly fluctuations took place (food inflation) during the month of December...It is little more than November," he said.

Food inflation remained high through December and also breached the double digit mark and touched the year high of 18.32% for the week ended 25 December. After that, it moderated to 16.91% for the week ended 1 January.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

Catch all the Politics News and Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.
More Less
Published: 14 Jan 2011, 01:51 PM IST
Next Story footLogo
Recommended For You
Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App