Potatoes and onion prices push food inflation to 14.55%

Food inflation rose to 14.55% in the first week of November fuelled by higher prices of staple items like potatoes, onions and pulses.

On a weekly basis, inflation rose 0.87 percentage points from 13.68%.

On yearly basis, prices of potatoes shot up by 102.47%, onions by 38.24% and that of pulses by 27.03%.

Analysts expect prices to remain at an elevated level, unless rabi crops are abundant.

"Food inflation is likely to remain high, unless prospects of rabi are known. It is a matter of concern," Crisil principal economist DK Joshi said.

However, he said high onion and potato prices may be seasonal.

There is no item on the list mentioned in the data that has shown a declining trend on a yearly basis.

On a weekly basis, though, prices of fruits fell by 1.3%, while that of jowar and poultry chicken by one per cent each.

Urad, mutton, moong, condiments and spices, barley, wheat and bajra rose three per cent each and milk, gram, river fish and eggs by one per cent each.

Non-food articles inflation also rose to 0.59% from (-) 0.17% a week ago and rate of price rise in fuel, power, light and lubricants was higher at (-) 1.51% compared to (-)1.71%.