From correspondents in Delhi, India, 05:02 PM IST

India's annual rate of inflation, which had been easing for five consecutive weeks, rose slightly to 10.72 percent for the week ended Oct 25, from 10.68 percent the week before, data released Thursday showed.

The wholesale price index (WPI) for all commodities released by the ministry of commerce and industry showed an increase of 0.1 percent, with the index for primary articles rising 0.4 percent. The index for food articles rose 0.4 percent due to the higher prices of rice (3 percent), and urad and tea (2 percent each).

The index for non-food articles rose 0.8 percent due to higher prices of rubber (up 7 percent) and raw cotton (3 percent).

The index for fuel, power, light and lubricants remain unchanged at the previous week's level of 369, while that for manufactured products declined marginally by 0.1 percent to 205.3 from 205.4 for the previous week. Both figures are provisional.

The annual rate of inflation based on the final index, calculated on point-to-point basis, stood at 12.38 percent for the week ended Aug 30, as compared to the provisional 12.1 percent.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)