January WPI : Inflation has gained momentum. Wholesale inflation has reached a 10-month high in January. It has increased from 0.83 percent in December to 1.81 percent. The prices of food items, vegetables and manufactured products have increased during this period. Wholesale inflation has reached a 10-month high in January. Inflation of daily essential goods has increased from 0.21 percent to 2.21 percent. Inflation of food items has increased. Wholesale inflation of onion increased from minus 54.40 percent to minus 33.42 percent. Wholesale inflation of eggs, meat and vegetables has also increased.
A look at the WPI figures for January
WPI of food items has increased from 0% to 1.41% in January. Similarly, Manufacturing WPI has increased from 1.82% to 2.86%. Fuel and Power WPI declined from -2.31% to -4.01% in January. Whereas, primary article WPI has increased from 0.21% to 2.21%. Wholesale inflation of potatoes has declined from -38.21% to -38.84% in January. At the same time, wholesale inflation of onion has increased from -54.40% to -33.42%. Wholesale inflation of eggs and meat has increased from 1.14% to 3.66% in January.
Wholesale inflation of vegetables has increased from -3.50% in December to 6.78% in January. Wholesale inflation of CEREALS has declined from -1.18% to -1.41%. The index number of all commodities increased from 157.0 in December to 157.8 in January. On a month-on-month basis, the WPI increased by 0.51 percent in January compared to December.
Data released today showed that wholesale prices have increased due to higher manufacturing costs of basic metals as well as food items and clothing. “The increase in inflation rate in January 2026 is mainly due to increase in prices of basic metals, other manufacturing, non-food articles, food articles and textiles etc.,” the Industry Ministry said in a statement.
Retail inflation also increased
Data released last week showed that the country’s retail inflation rate has also increased slightly in January and stood at 2.75%. Let us tell you that due to low inflation, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reduced the policy interest rate by 1.25 percent in the current financial year. RBI mainly tracks retail inflation to decide the benchmark interest rate. Earlier this month, RBI had kept the key policy interest rate at 5.25%.