India Wholesale Inflation at Over 3-Year High

2026-04-15 06:41 By Chusnul Chotimah 1 min. read

India’s wholesale prices increased 3.88% yoy in March 2026, accelerating from a 2.13% rise in February and surpassing expectations of 3%.

This marked the fastest growth since January 2023, driven by a quicker rise in manufacturing costs and a rebound in fuel prices, amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Food inflation remained steady.

Prices for fuel and power rebounded (1.05% vs -3.78%), marking the first rise in a year, boosted by a recovery in petrol prices (2.50% vs -5.38%) and HSD (3.26% vs -3.27%).

Meanwhile, manufacturing inflation accelerated to 3.39% from 2.92%, marking the fastest pace since November 2022, led by textiles (4.91% vs 3.29%), leather and related products (3.03% vs 1.58%), and chemicals and chemicals (2.19% vs 0.55%).

Also, primary articles rose faster (6.36% vs 3.27%), mainly due to higher costs of non-food articles (11.50% vs 8.80%), while the food index remained at 1.85%.

Monthly, wholesale prices rose 1.64%, accelerating from 0.38% in February.



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India Wholesale Inflation at Over 3-Year High
India’s wholesale prices increased 3.88% yoy in March 2026, accelerating from a 2.13% rise in February and surpassing expectations of 3%. This marked the fastest growth since January 2023, driven by a quicker rise in manufacturing costs and a rebound in fuel prices, amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Food inflation remained steady. Prices for fuel and power rebounded (1.05% vs -3.78%), marking the first rise in a year, boosted by a recovery in petrol prices (2.50% vs -5.38%) and HSD (3.26% vs -3.27%). Meanwhile, manufacturing inflation accelerated to 3.39% from 2.92%, marking the fastest pace since November 2022, led by textiles (4.91% vs 3.29%), leather and related products (3.03% vs 1.58%), and chemicals and chemicals (2.19% vs 0.55%). Also, primary articles rose faster (6.36% vs 3.27%), mainly due to higher costs of non-food articles (11.50% vs 8.80%), while the food index remained at 1.85%. Monthly, wholesale prices rose 1.64%, accelerating from 0.38% in February.
2026-04-15
India Wholesale Inflation Rises to 1-Year High
India’s wholesale prices rose 2.13% year-on-year in February 2026, accelerating from a 1.81% increase in January and exceeding expectations of a 2% gain. This marked the fastest rise since February last year, driven by a pickup in inflation for primary articles (3.27% vs 2.21% in January), mainly due to higher costs of food articles (2.19% vs 1.55%) and a sharp acceleration in non-food articles inflation (8.80% vs 4.97%), pushed by a surge in oilseed prices (25.38% vs 0.11%). Price growth also increased for manufactured products (2.92% vs 2.86%), led by tobacco products (6.28% vs 1.38%), textiles (3.29% vs 2.48%), wearing apparel (2.14% vs 2.08%), and leather and related products (1.58% vs 0.78%). Meanwhile, prices for fuel and power continued to decline (-3.78% vs -4.01%), reflecting sustained drops in LPG (-4.63% vs -7.68%), petrol (-5.38% vs -4.58%), and HSD (-3.72% vs -4.26%). On a monthly basis, wholesale prices rose 0.25%, easing from a revised 0.38% increase in January.
2026-03-16
India Wholesale Prices Rise at Fastest Pace in 10 Months
India’s wholesale prices rose 1.81% year-on-year in January 2026, accelerating from a 0.83% increase in December and exceeding the expected 1.25% rise. This marked the sharpest growth since March 2025, driven by a pickup in manufacturing inflation (2.86% vs 1.82% in December), particularly in textiles (2.48% vs 1.68%) and wearing apparel (2.08% vs 1.55%). Inflation also accelerated for food, rising 1.41% after showing no growth in December, driven by a rebound in food articles (1.55% vs -0.43%), including vegetables (6.78% vs -3.50%), alongside faster increase in costs of eggs, meat, and fish (3.66% vs 1.14%). Meanwhile, fuel costs dropped sharply by 4.01% (vs -2.31%), the steepest decline since October 2024, reflecting ongoing deflation in LPG (-7.68% vs -14.04%), petrol (-4.58% vs -1.88%), and HSD (-4.29% vs -2.07%). On a monthly basis, wholesale prices increased 0.51%, matching the pace in the previous period.
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