Inflation declined marginally to 8.23 per cent in January from 8.43 per cent in the previous month, as prices of certain commodities like wheat, pulses and sugar eased, although essential items like onion and other vegetables continue to remain dearer. However, vegetable and fruits continued to remain expensive. On an annual basis, vegetable prices rose by 65 per cent, and onion prices nearly doubled. Also, fruits became costly by 15.01 per cent and egg, meat and fish by 15.09 percent. Overall, primary articles became costly by 17.28 per cent with food articles rising 15.65 per cent.In the non-food articles category, fibre prices rose by 48 per cent on an annual basis. Prices of fuel and power shot up by 11.41 per cent, with petrol rising 27.37 per cent on an year-on-year basis. However, among manufactured items, sugar prices fell by 15 per cent, while edible oils turned costlier by 7.16 per cent.Encouraged by moderation in inflation in January, the Planning Commission today forecast continuation of the trend in the coming month due to decline in the cost of onion and other vegetables. Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia told reporters in New Delhi that the prices of primary articles were high because of the impact of shooting up of price of onions and vegetables. The headline inflation or Wholesale Price Index declined marginally to 8.23 per cent in January from 8.43 per cent in the previous month as per the data releases today.