3 weeks ago
India's food inflation rises to 5.52% in July
Food is getting more expensive in India.
In July, the cost of food went up by 5.52% compared with a year earlier.
Things like ginger, garlic, onions, chicken, eggs and cooking oil became costlier.
Some vegetables, such as potatoes, peas and tomatoes, actually became cheaper.
The government changed how it measures prices.
It now uses 2024 as the base year instead of 2012.
Rain returned in July after a very dry June.
That is good news for farmers who are growing crops.
But weather experts say rains may be below normal later in the season.
This could keep food prices high for a while.
Food inflation in India rose to 5.52% in July from 5.32% in June 2026, driven by costlier ginger, garlic, onion, chicken, eggs and edible oils.
Steep year-on-year price hikes were recorded for ginger (83.62%), garlic (35.36%), onion (22.54%), chicken (19.56%) and refined oil (13.35%).
Potato (-16.56%), peas (-5.27%) and tomato (-4.59%) prices declined year-on-year in July 2026.
The monsoon rainfall deficit narrowed to 12% after June's 36% deficit, boosting kharif crop sowing, though August-September rains are forecast below normal.
MoSPI revised the CPI base year from 2012 to 2024, lowering the Consumer Food Price Index's weightage in CPI to about 36.73% from 45.86%.
- Who
- India's Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the India Meteorological Department, and economists Madan Sabnavis of Bank of Baroda and Aditi Nayar of ICRA.
- What
- Food inflation rose to 5.52% in July, with steep price rises in ginger, garlic, onion, chicken and refined oil.
- Where
- India
- When
- July 2026, reported after the latest monthly CPI data release.
- Why
- Costlier staples such as ginger, garlic, onion, chicken, eggs and edible oils, high global edible oil prices, and monsoon uncertainty affecting crop output and prices.
Key facts
- Food inflation (July 2026)
- 5.52%
- Food inflation (June 2026)
- 5.32%
- Sequential CFPI rise
- 2.09% month-on-month
- Highest price rises
- Ginger 83.62%, garlic 35.36%, onion 22.54%, chicken 19.56%, refined oil 13.35%
- Price declines
- Potato -16.56%, peas -5.27%, tomato -4.59%
- New CPI base year
- 2024, revised from 2012
- CFPI weightage in CPI
- 36.73%, down from 45.86%
- Monsoon rainfall deficit
- 12% overall, after a 36% deficit in June; season forecast below normal at 90% of LPA
Quotes
Madan Sabnavis
Chief Economist, Bank of Baroda
“"While monsoon has recovered substantially in July, there has been news of crop damage due to excess rains. This combined with a longer cropping period and hence, harvest will push up prices of pulses in particular."”
financialexpress.com
“"While sowing (kharif crops) is now only 1.8% below last year’s level, the volume and dispersion of rainfall in the remainder of the monsoon season will still crucially influence output and prices."”
financialexpress.com
Sources
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