The base effect means that the fall looks large when compared with the rising WPI during the same period last year.

During the week under review, prices of cereals, pulses fruits and vegetables declined, while wheat, poultry chicken, fish-marine, milk and eggs turned expensive.

Inflation started an upward march during November last year, crossing the psychologically worrisome 6 per cent during the early months of 2007 and forced a concerned government to initiate a series of fiscal and monetary steps. Inflation had hit a high of 6.69 per cent in January this year.

However, going forward, there is a potential threat from soaring oil prices on inflation, analysts said.

Oil prices had touched $100 per barrel on Wednesday. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for December delivery, hit an historic peak of $98.62 per barrel. It later stood at $98.00, up $1.30.

According to analysts, the decision by the government to raise prices of petroleum product would have spill-over effect on the prices of commodities which in turn would raise inflation in the future.

Source: HindustanTimes