Inflation data to be released monthly

The government on Monday approved a proposal to release wholesale prices-based inflation data on a monthly basis, instead of every week now, and changed the base year to 2004-05 from 1993-94.

However, data on primary and fuel items would continue to be released on weekly basis.

"The new series of WPI (Wholesale Price Index) inflation with 2004-05 as base year would be launched soon," Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma told reporters after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.

The government intends to release the new series after November 14, he added.

Thus, on a consolidated basis, WPI data would come on a monthly basis.