Business : Annual food inflation eased to 12.63 percent for the week ended 26th June but fuel inflation shot up to 18.02 percent after the hike in rates of petroleum products.

The rate of price rise of food items was 12.92 percent in the previous week ended 19th June.

Vegetable prices fell by over 4 percent year-on-year, led by a massive decline in rates of potato and onion.

Potato became cheaper by over 42 percent, while onion by 8.75 percent on an annual basis.

Fuel inflation for the week under review, however, rose sharply to 18.02 percent after the impact of fuel price hike by the government on 25th June.

Prices of petrol and diesel raised by up to Rs 3.50 a litre, while that of LPG and kerosene were hiked by 35 per cylinder and Rs 3 a litre respectively.

Fuel inflation for the week ending 19th June stood at 12.90 percent.

Overall inflation for May was 10.16 percent, led by high food prices.

Food inflation had remained above the 16 percent level for most part of the year.

However, it had fallen sharply for the week ended 19th June to 12.92 percent, from 16.90 percent in the week ago.