New Delhi, June 20 (ANI): The inflation reached a 13-year high of 11.05 percent for the week ended June 7.

Oil price hike and rising prices of food items have contributed to inflation.

Measured by the wholesale price index, it stood at 8.75 per cent in the previous week.

For the 17th consecutive week, inflation rate has been above 5.5 per cent.

Analysts say, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) would come out with some measures on the rate and liquidity side much before the July policy for curbing high inflation figure.

This is the highest level of inflation during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime. The annual inflation rate for the week ended August 28, 2004, was 8.74 per cent.

On June 4, the Central Government upped the price of petrol by Rs 5 a litre and that of diesel by Rs 3 a litre. The price of a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder was increased by Rs 50. Price of kerosene was left untouched.

Chidambaram hints at stronger steps to curb inflation

Finance Minister P Chidambaram today said that the Central Government would take more measures to control inflation.

Talking to reporters at the north block here, he hinted at taking stronger measures on demand and supply sides after the official data disclosed an inflation rate of 11.05 per cent for the week ended June 7.

He attributed the high inflation rate to the rise in administered prices of petroleum products,

Refusing to divulge what measures the Government or the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) intended to take; Chidambaram said he had cautioned the Cabinet that inflation would touch double-digit, when fuel prices were increased on June 4.

He said that petrol, diesel and LPG amounted to 94 per cent of the rise in inflation for the week ended June 7.

On June 4, Petrol, diesel and LPG prices were increased by Rs 5 a litre, Rs 3 a litre and Rs 50 per cylinder, respectively. (ANI)