Double digit food inflation matter of concern: Pranab Mukherjee

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee today expressed concern over rising prices as the food inflation, after a gap of two weeks, entered the double digits driven mainly by higher prices of essential items.

"Of course it (food inflating) is a concern," he told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting with chiefs of PSU banks.

High food inflation, Mukherjee added, was also on account of "base effect", which is the statistical impact of the level of prices in the corresponding period last year on the current inflation rate. With low base even the small rise in inflation appears large.

After remaining in single digit for two weeks, food inflation again shot up to double digits at 11.4% for the week ended July 31.

Experts, however, felt that food prices would calm after the impact of monsoon became visible with the advent of kharif (summer) crop in the market.

Food inflation had surpassed the 20% mark towards the end of 2009.

Overall inflation, which also include variation in prices of manufactured goods, was 10.55% in June.

The figures for July, which will be made public on Monday, many economists feel, would be higher.

Inflation, which was in the negative in June-August 2009, soared to 11.23% in May 2010.