Wholesale Inflation

India’s wholesale price inflation rose to 3.88 percent in March, marking the fifth consecutive month of increase and signaling renewed cost pressures across the economy. The rise was largely driven by a sharp uptick in fuel, power, and manufactured goods prices, influenced by geopolitical tensions in West Asia and higher global commodity costs. Compared with 2.13 percent in February and 2.25 percent a year earlier, the latest data reflects a broad-based inflationary trend.

India’s wholesale price inflation continued its gradual upward trend in February 2026, reaching 2.13%, according to the latest government data. The increase marks the fourth consecutive monthly rise and was largely driven by higher prices in manufacturing, basic metals, textiles, food articles, and non-food commodities. Although vegetable prices declined slightly compared with the previous month, broader commodity cost pressures pushed the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) higher. The inflation rate rose from 1.81% in January but remained below the 2.45% recorded in February 2025.