INFLATION DIPS TO 10-MONTH LOW; FOOD PRICES PRESSURED BY HEATWAVE.
Why in the news?
Retail inflation in India drops to a 10-month low of 4.85% in March, driven by moderation in food and fuel prices.
Source:TH
About Retail Inflation in March:
Retail inflation in India dropped to a 10-month low of 4.85% in March, primarily due to moderation in food and fuel prices, along with lower rates for petrol, diesel, and LPG.
However, the Consumer Food Price Index-based inflation remained elevated at 8.52% in March, persisting above the 8% mark for the fifth consecutive month.
Rural areas experienced higher food inflation compared to urban areas, with rural consumers facing slightly higher inflation at 5.45% compared to 4.14% for urban consumers.
What is Consumer Food Price Inflation (CFPI)?
Consumer Food Price Inflation (CFPI) measures price changes in food items in a consumer’s basket.
It focuses exclusively on food products within the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
CFPI calculates the rate at which prices of food consumed by households are increasing over time.
It is a sub-component of CPI, with RBI using CPI-Combined (CPI-C) for this purpose.
Components of CFPI
CFPI tracks price changes of commonly consumed food items like cereals, vegetables, fruits, dairy, and meat.
It provides insights into inflation trends specifically related to food staples and essentials.
What is the Consumer Price Index (CPI)?
Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the change in prices of goods and services bought by consumers.
Includes food, clothing, housing, transportation, and medical care.