Food inflation climbs; Pranab ?concerned?

Union Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday expressed concern at the rising trend of food inflation.

As per official figures released earlier in the day, food inflation stood at 18.32 per cent for the week ended December 25, thus making the food inflation rise for the fifth straight week.

This figure is the highest during the past one year.

?It has moved further. It is an area of concern,? Mukherjee said.

He, however, pointed that the weekly food inflation could vary and a bigger picture will be available only after the figures for the month of December are compiled.

?These are weekly (figures). Let us wait for monthly figures. These are weekly variations, but is a matter of concern,? the minister said.

Steep climb in onion and other vegetable prices is believed to have contributed to the food inflation figure.

The overall inflation in November was 7.48 per cent, from 8.58 per cent a month ago.