NEW DELHI: While policy-makers and economists alig-ned with the government were celebrating the dip in wholesale and retail inflation, and there was good cheer on account of a reviving monsoon, the common man continued to grapple with ever-rising vegetable prices.In the past month, tomato prices have risen by over 200 per cent in many cities, touching 250 per cent in Delhi and a back-breaking 300 per cent in Mumbai. Onion prices have risen by 50 to 70 per cent. There is no fall in production or arrivals in wholesale mandis but the prices are still rising.The new government had announced a slew of measures to tackle price rise, especially for vegetables. To curb hoarding, onions and potatoes were included in a list of essential commodities whose stocks could be limited by state government orders. This happened about a fortnight ago but the states are still stuck in the bureaucratic details.In case of onions, there was considerable sabre-rattling in Delhi with calls for action against onion cartels in Maharashtra. It was hoped that listing onions as ‘essential’ would help. But the Maharashtra government has not issued any order and so status quo prevails.Freeing farmers to sell their produce anywhere, as opposed to the official mandis governed by law, was another action taken by the government. But that too has failed to bring down prices.Recent announcements that inflation is dipping have done little to mollify the aam aadmi who is wondering why the government data is at variance with ground reality.First, there are two types of inflation data put out — wholesale and retail (known as consumer prices). There is always a significant difference between the two. Retail prices are always higher than wholesale ones.Second, and more importantly, inflation is calculated on a year-on-year basis. For example, average prices of onions in June this year are compared to prices in June last year. In some cases, prices are lower than last year — but that is meaningless to the family which was paying Rs 20 for a kilo of onions a month ago and is now paying Rs 30 or 35.Third, inflation data is usually a month late. The data released on 14 July was for June. This is understandable because data on prices is collected and compiled from all over the country. But for the aam aadmi, the price battle is a daily one, and month-old data gives no succour.