India Retail Inflation Broadens, Hits 19-Month High in July

Inflation is when the prices of things we buy go up over time.

In July, prices in India went up by 4.45% compared with a year earlier, the biggest increase in 19 months.

Food prices went up even more, by 5.52%.

Cost increases spread across most food categories, including proteins, spices, oils, fats and fruits.

Some prices that usually stay calm, called core prices, stayed at 3.9% for three months in a row.

But more and more items are getting expensive, as 65% of the items in the price-tracking basket rose faster in July than in June.

That means price increases are spreading beyond just food and fuel.

The Reserve Bank of India, which manages the country's money, is watching closely.

It expects prices to rise above 5% from October onwards.

If that happens, it may raise interest rates to help keep prices from rising too fast.