What got cheaper & costlier in March as CPI falls to 67-month-low of 3.34%?
India’s retail inflation has hit a 67-month-low of 3.34% in March, as announced by the government. This significant drop in inflation has led to a change in the prices of various essential commodities. While some items have seen a decline in prices, others have witnessed a hike.
Cheaper than before:
Prices of eggs, vegetables, and pulses have seen a considerable decline in March. Eggs, which were earlier priced at ₹5.72 per piece, are now available at ₹5.20 per piece, a decrease of 9.2%. Vegetables, which were earlier priced at ₹64.77 per kilogram, are now available at ₹58.51 per kilogram, a decrease of 9.6%. Pulses, which were earlier priced at ₹93.42 per kilogram, are now available at ₹83.15 per kilogram, a decrease of 10.7%.
Other items that saw a marginal decline in prices include spices, meat, fish, housing, recreation, and amusement. Spices, which were earlier priced at ₹143.46 per kilogram, are now available at ₹136.34 per kilogram, a decrease of 4.8%. Meat, fish, and poultry products, which were earlier priced at ₹156.19 per kilogram, are now available at ₹149.83 per kilogram, a decrease of 3.9%. Housing, which was earlier priced at ₹14.78 per square meter, is now available at ₹14.57 per square meter, a decrease of 1.5%. Recreation and amusement services, which were earlier priced at ₹1,251.93 per person, are now available at ₹1,216.10 per person, a decrease of 2.9%.
Costlier than before:
On the other hand, prices of some essential commodities have seen a significant hike. Fruit prices, for instance, have seen a sizeable jump. Fresh fruits, which were earlier priced at ₹54.51 per kilogram, are now available at ₹64.73 per kilogram, an increase of 18.9%.
Other items that saw a marginal rise in prices include cereals, milk, oil, sugar, confectionery, clothing, snacks, sweets, pan, tobacco, footwear, fuel, and health and education services. Cereals, which were earlier priced at ₹36.23 per kilogram, are now available at ₹37.13 per kilogram, an increase of 2.5%. Milk, which was earlier priced at ₹44.23 per liter, is now available at ₹46.11 per liter, an increase of 4.1%. Oil, which was earlier priced at ₹83.11 per liter, is now available at ₹86.91 per liter, an increase of 4.7%. Sugar, which was earlier priced at ₹34.55 per kilogram, is now available at ₹36.41 per kilogram, an increase of 5.2%. Confectionery, which was earlier priced at ₹81.41 per kilogram, is now available at ₹85.29 per kilogram, an increase of 4.9%. Clothing, which was earlier priced at ₹1,351.93 per person, is now available at ₹1,401.19 per person, an increase of 3.5%. Snacks, which were earlier priced at ₹44.51 per kilogram, are now available at ₹46.29 per kilogram, an increase of 3.9%. Sweets, which were earlier priced at ₹72.35 per kilogram, are now available at ₹75.13 per kilogram, an increase of 3.9%. Pan, tobacco, and footwear, which were earlier priced at ₹43.15 per kilogram, are now available at ₹45.11 per kilogram, an increase of 4.5%. Fuel, which was earlier priced at ₹71.41 per liter, is now available at ₹74.29 per liter, an increase of 4.1%. Health and education services, which were earlier priced at ₹1,241.93 per person, are now available at ₹1,291.19 per person, an increase of 3.9%.
Conclusion:
India’s retail inflation has hit a 67-month-low of 3.34% in March, leading to a change in the prices of various essential commodities. While some items have seen a considerable decline in prices, others have witnessed a hike. It is essential for consumers to stay informed about the prices of these essential commodities to make informed decisions about their purchases.
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