For the week ended June 21, inflation rate climbed up to 11.63 percent, as against 11.42% during the last week.
The inflation rate is presently at the highest since May 6, 1995, when it was 11.11%.
Fueled by increasing food and commodity prices, this will be the 19th straight week that inflation rate has been rising above 5.5%, RBI’s target by the end of the fiscal year in March 2009.
Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said that India is not the only country to be affected by the inflation. All countries are facing economic problems due inflation. He emphasized that world is in middle of a dramatic change in the world price distribution. Hence Indians should get used to the high energy prices.
India recorded a deficit of Rs 104 core in its current (January-March) account in the country’s balance of payments during the fourth quarter of a fiscal due to the rise in oil prices. India's current account deficit in 2007-08 rose by 77% to touch $17.4 billion, accounting for 1.5% of GDP in 2007-08. The oil import bill increased by 34.6% to $76.9 billion in 2007-08 due to surge in crude price. However, non-oil imports recorded a growth of 30.6% only.