Lok Sabha Question No. 3548 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-07
Subject: Price Index
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: RAM KUMAR SHARMA KUSHWAHA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3548

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 7 TH  DECEMBER, 2016

## PRICE INDEX

## 3548.  SHRI RAM KUMAR SHARMA:

Will the Minister of STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION be pleased to state:

- (a)
- whether the rate of price index is not stable in the country;
- (b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) the  details  of  the  price  index  particularly  the  consumer price  index  of  each  month  between  March,  2015  and October, 2016;
- (d) whether the fluctuation in the rate of price index is caused by the rise and fall in the prices of edible items; and
- (e)
- if so, the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  FOR  STATISTICS  AND  PROGRAMME  IMPLEMENTATION

## [SHRI D. V. SADANANDA GOWDA]

- (a)  to  (b):  Month-to-month  change  (i.e.  current  month  over  previous month)  in  All  India  Consumer  Price  Index  (General)  and  Wholesale Price  Index  has  ranged  from  -0.39%  to  1.17%  and  -0.84%  to  1.50% respectively  during  the  period  of  March  2015  to  October  2016.  Such fluctuations in the price indices are normal because of different price behaviour  of  various  items,  especially  food  items,  prices  of  which change very frequently.
- (c):   The Consumer Price Indices (CPI) during the period of March 2015 to October 2016 are as follows:

| Month          |   CPI | Month          |   CPI |
|----------------|-------|----------------|-------|
| March 2015     | 120.2 | January 2016   | 126.3 |
| April 2015     | 120.7 | February 2016  | 126   |
| May 2015       | 121.6 | March 2016     | 126   |
| June 2015      | 123   | April 2016     | 127.3 |
| July 2015      | 123.6 | May 2016       | 128.6 |
| August 2015    | 124.8 | June 2016      | 130.1 |
| September 2015 | 125.4 | July 2016      | 131.1 |
| October 2015   | 126.1 | August 2016    | 131.1 |
| November 2015  | 126.6 | September 2016 | 130.9 |
| December 2015  | 126.1 | October 2016   | 131.4 |

(d):    Yes,  Madam. The fluctuations in the CPI have been significantly caused by the fluctuations in Consumer Food Price Index in most of the months during March 2015 to October 2016. (e):  The Government has been taking regular review meetings on price and  availability  situation  at  various  levels  namely,  Finance  Minister, Price Stabilization  Fund  Management  Committee  etc.  It  has  taken  several measures to contain prices of essential food items, some of which are

Committee of Secretaries, Inter Ministerial Committee, as follows:

- i. sending advisory to States to take strict action against hoarding and  black  marketing  and  strictly  enforce  relevant  statutory provisions;
- ii. announcing higher Minimum Support Price (MSP);
- iii. implementation of Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) scheme;
- iv. banning  exports  and  encouraging  imports  subject  to  certain restrictions;
- v. releasing buffer stocks to States for retailing to consumers; and
- vi. banning  new  contracts  in  Chana  as  ordered  by  Securities  and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

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