Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 14: The Congress on Monday attacked the government over the latest Wholesale Price Index (WPI) data, alleging that rising prices of essential commodities and declining real wages were adding to the financial burden on families.
According to government data released on Monday, wholesale price-based inflation increased to 9.92 per cent in August from 9.78 per cent in July.
Food inflation also rose to 7.05 per cent in August from 6.65 per cent in July, while inflation in manufactured products touched a series high of 8.37 per cent, compared with 8.29 per cent in the previous month.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh, in a post on X, said WPI inflation had remained close to 10 per cent for four consecutive months and alleged that rising prices were causing hardship to millions of families.
“Official data just released shows that for four consecutive months now the WPI inflation has been hovering around 10%. Prices of all essential commodities have continued their upward rise causing huge hardships to crores of families,” Ramesh said.
He also cited data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) to claim that inflation-adjusted wages had declined by 5.7 per cent since April, with rural India witnessing a 9 per cent fall.
“To compound the misery, according to CMIE data, inflation-adjusted wages have also been consistently falling with a 5.7% drop since April. Rural India has seen a massive 9% decline - even in nominal terms rural wages have fallen,” he said.
Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ramesh said, “The PM keeps saying ‘sab changa si’ (all is well), but actually ‘sab mehenga si’ (everything is expensive).”
WPI inflation has increased since the beginning of the current financial year amid pressure from global crude oil and fertiliser prices. The ongoing conflict in West Asia and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have also added to concerns over domestic prices.
The latest data is likely to keep inflation and household purchasing power at the centre of the political debate, with the opposition highlighting the impact of rising prices and weakening real wages.