New Delhi, Mar 13 (KNN) Although the headline CPI Inflation (combined) for February 2014 eased to a 25-month low level at 8.10 per cent (y-o-y), marking an deceleration from 9.79 per cent (y-o-y) seen in the previous month, the prices of items used by wage workers like cereals, pulses, egg, meat, fish, milk products etc remained higher in February as compared to the previous months.

The high inflation of items used by the wage staff exerts pressure on the wage cost for the economy.

The combined price for cereals and products in rural as well as urban parts increased to 137.3 in February in comparison to 136.5 in January; whereas the prices for pulses and products also increased to 119.1 in comparison to 118.7 in January; and the prices of egg, fish and meat rose to 149.4 in February in comparison to 148.9 in January.

However, the falling vegetable prices somehow helped the combined CPI growth to fall below 8.5 per cent. The vegetables prices on monthly basis fell to 6.72 per cent from 13.38 per cent in January. Also the prices eased to 14.04 per cent (y-o-y) in February from 21.75 per cent in January 2014. 

The core CPI, which refers to services like medical care, education, recreation, transport and household requisites, grew in February. (KNN/SD)