The consumer price index in India rose 3.21% annually in February of 2026, picking up from the 2.74% in the previous month and loosely in line with market expectations of 3.1% to mark the fastest pace of inflation in 11 months. The increase reflected the normalization of Indian inflation after a pullback in food prices drove the headline rate to continuously test record lows late last year. The food inflation gague rose to 3.47% from 2.13% last month. Prices also rose firmly for restaurants and accommodation (2.73%), clothing and footwear (2.81%), and paan and tobacco (3.49%). In turn, prices fell for transportation (-0.05%) amid the pullback in oil and gas costs in the wholesale market, which are set to rise in March due to the war in the Persian Gulf. From the previous month, prices inched higher by 0.11%. source: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI)

Inflation Rate in India increased to 3.21 percent in February from 2.74 percent in January of 2026. Inflation Rate in India averaged 5.63 percent from 2012 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 12.17 percent in November of 2013 and a record low of 0.25 percent in October of 2025. This page provides - India Inflation Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. India Inflation Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on March of 2026.

Inflation Rate in India increased to 3.21 percent in February from 2.74 percent in January of 2026. Inflation Rate in India is expected to be 2.90 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the India Inflation Rate is projected to trend around 4.00 percent in 2027 and 4.10 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-02-12 10:30 AM
Inflation Rate YoY
Jan 2.75% 1.33% 2.4% 2.5%
2026-03-12 10:30 AM
Inflation Rate YoY
Feb 3.21% 2.74% 3.1% 2.7%
2026-04-15 10:30 AM
Inflation Rate YoY
Mar 3.21% 2.9%

Components Last Previous Unit Reference
CPI Clothing and Footwear 106.11 105.92 points Feb 2026
CPI Education Services 105.36 105.33 points Feb 2026
Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) 103.88 104.04 points Feb 2026
CPI Housing and Utilities 102.09 102.02 points Feb 2026
CPI Recreation, Sport and Culture 104.17 104.03 points Feb 2026
CPI Restaurants and Accommodation Services 105.96 105.71 points Feb 2026
CPI Transport 100.69 100.64 points Feb 2026
Food Inflation 3.47 2.13 percent Feb 2026

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Consumer Price Index CPI 104.57 104.45 points Feb 2026
GDP Deflator 172.60 170.20 points Dec 2024
Inflation Rate YoY 3.21 2.74 percent Feb 2026
Inflation Rate MoM 0.11 0.34 percent Feb 2026


India Inflation Rate
In India, the most important category in the consumer price index is Food and beverages (45.86 percent of total weight), of which Cereals and products (9.67 percent), Milk and products (6.61 percent), Vegetables (6.04 percent), Prepared meals, snacks, sweets, etc. (5.55 percent), Meat and fish (3.61 percent), and Oils and fats (3.56 percent). Miscellaneous accounts for 28.32 percent, of which Transport and communication (8.59 percent), health (5.89 percent), and education (4.46 percent). Housing accounts for 10.07 percent; Fuel and light for 6.84 percent; Clothing and footwear for 6.53 percent; and Pan, tobacco and intoxicants for 2.38 percent. Consumer price changes in India can be very volatile due to dependence on energy imports, the uncertain impact of monsoon rains on its large farm sector, difficulties transporting food items to market because of its poor roads and infrastructure and high fiscal deficit. In 2013, the consumer price index replaced the wholesale price index (WPI) as a main measure of inflation.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
3.21 2.74 12.17 0.25 2012 - 2026 percent Monthly
NSA

News Stream
India Inflation Rises to 11-Month High
The consumer price index in India rose 3.21% annually in February of 2026, picking up from the 2.74% in the previous month and loosely in line with market expectations of 3.1% to mark the fastest pace of inflation in 11 months. The increase reflected the normalization of Indian inflation after a pullback in food prices drove the headline rate to continuously test record lows late last year. The food inflation gague rose to 3.47% from 2.13% last month. Prices also rose firmly for restaurants and accommodation (2.73%), clothing and footwear (2.81%), and paan and tobacco (3.49%). In turn, prices fell for transportation (-0.05%) amid the pullback in oil and gas costs in the wholesale market, which are set to rise in March due to the war in the Persian Gulf. From the previous month, prices inched higher by 0.11%.
2026-03-12
India Inflation Returns to RBI Tolerance Band
The inflation rate in India rose to 2.75% in January of 2026, firmly above market expectations of 2.4%. The result marked the first inflation rate within the RBI's tolerance band of 2%-4% since August of the previous year. The rate was the first measurement in India's new CPI, which updated the weights of different goods within the index according to the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey from two fiscal years ago. Food inflation, which now accounts for a much smaller portion of the Indian consumer basket, surged to 2.13% from the -2.71% in the previous month, which used the old aggregators for the index. Meanwhile, inflation was elevated for personal care and social protection (19.02%), health (2.19%), and clothing and footwear (2.98%). In turn, transportations inflation was muted at 0.09%. From the previous month, the new consumer price index was at 0.35%.
2026-02-12
Indian Inflation Rate Rises Less than Expected
The consumer price inflation rate in India rose to 1.33% in December of 2025 from 0.71% in the earlier month, extending the normalization from the record low of 0.25% in October but below the market consensus of 1.5%. Despite the second consecutive increase, the inflation rate remained sharply below the Reserve Bank of India's tolerance limit of 2%-6%. Prices fell less for food (-2.71% vs -3.91% in November), which represent nearly half of the Indian consumer basket. In turn, inflation eased for housing (2.86% vs 2.95%) and fuel and light (1.97% vs 2.32%). From the previous month, the Indian CPI was 0.05% higher to end the year.
2026-01-12