New Delhi, Aug 13 The annual rate of inflation on Thursday fell marginally to minus 1.74 percent for the week ending August 1 from minus 1.58 percent the week before.

Food prices continued on a higher path with barley, jowar and gram gaining two percent each and condiments and spices, arhar and fruits and vegetables costlier by one percent. However, the prices of tea declined by nine percent.

Higher prices of aviation turbine fuel also contributed to the overall inflation data.

The decline in Wholesale Prices Index was due to lower prices of Metals Alloys and Metal Products which declined by 0.1 percent riding on pig iron and foundry pig iron, iron steel.

While the index for primary articles rose 0.1 percent to 262.5 (provisional) from 262.2 (provisional) the week before, the index for manufactured products rose 0.1 percent to 205.9 (provisional) from 205.6 (provisional) for the previous week. (ANI)