44 mins ago
India’s August Wholesale Inflation Climbs on Food, Fuel Pressures
Wholesale prices in India rose faster in August 2026.
The increase means businesses paid more for many goods before they reached consumers.
Food prices went up, and prices for manufactured products also reached a high.
Fuel and electricity-related prices rose especially sharply.
The fuel increase was linked partly to higher oil costs.
The West Asia conflict and a blockade near the Strait of Hormuz disrupted an important oil route.
More expensive fuel and fertiliser then added pressure to food prices.
Experts said businesses may face higher costs and tighter profit margins.
The Reserve Bank of India is watching the situation, and analysts said it could consider small rate increases if tensions continue.
India’s wholesale price inflation rose to 9.92% in August from 9.78% in July.
Food-index inflation increased to 7.05% from 6.65%, while primary-articles inflation declined to 7.76% from 8.52%.
Manufactured-products inflation reached a series high of 8.37%, up from 8.29% in July.
Fuel-and-power inflation jumped to 22.93% from 20.05%, driven partly by higher mineral-oil prices.
The West Asia conflict and Strait of Hormuz blockade pushed up crude and fertiliser costs, affecting food prices and industrial inputs.
- Who
- India’s Commerce and Industry Ministry released the wholesale price data; businesses and consumers are affected by the price increases.
- What
- Wholesale price inflation rose to 9.92% in August 2026 from 9.78% in July.
- Where
- India, with international price pressures linked to the West Asia conflict and the Strait of Hormuz.
- When
- The data was released on Monday for August 2026.
- Why
- Higher prices for food, fuel and power, manufactured products, mineral oils, fertilisers and other commodities drove the increase.
Key facts
- August WPI inflation
- 9.92%
- July WPI inflation
- 9.78%
- Food-index inflation
- 7.05% in August, up from 6.65% in July
- Manufactured-products inflation
- 8.37%, up from 8.29% in July
- Fuel-and-power inflation
- 22.93%, up from 20.05% in July
- Primary-articles inflation
- 7.76%, down from 8.52% in July
- WPI index
- 110.8 in August, compared with 110.0 in July
- RBI policy rate
- 5.25% at its previous meeting
Quotes
Rajeev Juneja
President of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry
“The latest movement in wholesale prices warrants close monitoring, particularly from the perspective of industrial input costs, business margins and competitiveness. The increase in WPI inflation has been accompanied by significant price pressures in fuel and power, manufactured products and selected primary commodities”
financialexpress.com
Commerce and Industry Ministry
Indian government ministry that released the wholesale price index data
“Across groups, mineral oils (containing petroleum products), food articles, manufacture of food products, manufacture of basic metals, non-food articles, and manufacture of chemicals and chemical products have been major drivers of WPI inflation in August 2026.”
m.rediff.com
Sources
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