The government on Thursday released truncated data for April wholesale price-based inflation saying there was limited transaction of products in the market due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
As per the data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry, wholesale price index (WPI) deflation in primary articles was 0.79% in April, as against an inflation of 3.72% in March.
The fuel and power basket saw a deflation of 10.12% in April, against 1.76% deflation in the previous month.
“In view of the limited transactions of products in the wholesale market in April 2020 due to the spread of COVID-19, it has been decided to release the price movement of selected sub-groups/groups of WPI, following the principles of adequacy,” an official statement said.
All commodities WPI could not be computed for April-2020 due to non- availability of manufactured product group index, it added.
It said the price indices of primary articles have been computed based on mandi prices of agricultural items; ex-mine prices of minerals; prices of crude petroleum and natural gas.
Price indices of fuel a