Inflation fell to (-)1.54 percent for the week ended July 18 even as essential food items like cereals, pulses, fruit and vegetables turned expensive.

Inflation stood at (-)1.17 percent in the previous week. However, the wholesale price index was as high as 12.54 percent in the corresponding week a year ago.

The prices of food items like mutton rose by 14 percent, arhar by 9 percent, gram by 4 per cent, fruit and vegetables by 2 percent during the week.

However, a major decline was registered in mineral index, as prices fell by 16.8 percent mainly due to softening iron ore prices by 24 percent and felspar by 3 percent.

At the same time, prices of jet fuel also declined by 7