The wholesale inflation across the country rose to an all-time high of 10.49 per cent in April, data released by the Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry showed on Monday. A low base of April last year contributed to the sharp rise in inflation last month. 

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation had grown by 7.39 per cent during March, while the WPI for February was revised to 4.83 per cent from 4.17 per cent, the data showed. The WPI in April 2020 was at (-)1.57 per cent. 

“The annual rate of inflation in April 2021 is high primarily because of rise in prices of crude petroleum, mineral oils, viz petrol, diesel, etc, and manufactured products as compared the corresponding month of the previous year,” the ministry statement said.

The food articles segment witnessed a 4.92 per cent rise in April led by a rise in pulses, fruits, egg, meat and fish prices. In the month prior to that, the prices in this segment had grown by 3.24 per cent. 

Vegetable prices contracted by (-) 9.03 per cent in April against (-) 5.19 per cent in March, the data showed. Pulses prices grew by 10.74 per cent last month, while that of fruits rose by 27.43 per cent. Eggs, meat and fish prices rose by 10.88 per cent in April. 

Prices in the fuel and power segment grew by a whopping 20.94 per cent in April, with petrol prices jumping by 42.37 per cent, high-speed diesel gaining by 33.82 per cent and LPG prices rising by 20.34 per cent.

The manufactured products segment too was costlier by 9.01 per cent last month, led by a 43.28 per cent jump in prices of vegetable and animal oils and fats. According to separate data released by the government last week, the retail inflation or the Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation eased to 4.29 per cent in April.