The Hindu Business Line : Controlling inflation top priority: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI: The Finance Minister, Mr P Chidambaram on Friday said containing inflation, which has again risen to cross six per cent, is high on the government's priority and expected it will come down to around 5.7 per cent next week.

"To contain inflation remains a very high priority... and my expectation is that it will hover around 5.7 per cent next week,'' Mr Chidambaram told reporters here. However, moderation in inflation would depend on wheat arrival in the market, which has be en delayed by 10 days.

Meanwhile, Finance Ministry sources said there was some ''glitch'' in the inflation figure released today. The figure may be revised downward as they were provisional estimates. An official statement today said wholesale prices-based inflation rose to 6. 09 per cent for the first week of the current fiscal against 5.74 per cent in the previous week.

Mr Chidambaram also said forecast of monsoon was ''good''. The Meteorological Department has estimated rainfall during the south-west monsoon season this year would be five per cent less than average. - PTI

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