India's wholesale price inflation in July eased to lowest in five months at 13.93 per cent against 15.18 per cent in June
Biggest hikes were reserved for pulses, oilseeds
Ministry of Consumer Affairs had imposed stock limits till March 2022, and left the decision to states to decide whether the stock limits should be based on the availability and consumption pattern
Amid edible oil prices continuing to remain high, the Centre on Friday asked states to direct retailers to prominently display the prices of all edible oil brands for the benefit of consumers and also take action against hoarding at the level of wholesalers, millers and refiners. After a meeting with states' representatives and industry stakeholders, Union Food Secretary Sudhansu Pandey also ruled imposing stock limit on traders as well as the possibility of fixing MRPs (Maximum Retail Prices) for edible oils as he emphasised that market forces will determine the rates in a good competitive environment. Pandey said the government will take a call on existing import duty regime after analysing the impact of various measures taken to reduce the prices. According to him, edible oil prices are expected to cool down with the arrival of new kharif crop by the end of this month, declining price trend in global markets and steps taken by the central government. In the last few months, the
Centre on Thursday asked state governments to gather details about stocks of edible oils and oilseeds from traders, millers, refiners and other stockists
The production of cereals, pulses and oilseeds is estimated to decline by 1.95 per cent, 2.22 per cent and 13.48 per cent, respectively, in 2019-20 compared to last year, according to the report.
Centre lowered the import duty on crude and refined palm oil by 5 percentage points each to 7.5 per cent and 10 per cent