Food Inflation Rises to 8.94 Percent in October

New Delhi. Driven by price increases in items such as onions, garlic, sugar, and edible oils, the food inflation rate surged to 8.94 percent in October 2026. The festive season led to an uptick in the demand and consumption of food products, while concerns persisted regarding the impact of deficient monsoon rainfall on Kharif crop production. This created a psychological effect on the market. Prices for many food items remain at elevated levels.

According to official data, the revised Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) was 0.94 percent higher than in September and 8.94 percent higher compared to October 2025. In September 2026, the food inflation rate was recorded at 7.74 percent. Notably, the food inflation rate remained in the negative zone for the seven-month period from June to December 2025. In January 2026, the food inflation rate stood at 2.13 percent, following the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s decision to adopt 2024 as the base year for calculating the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Prior to this, in November 2024, the food inflation rate had reached a peak of 9.04 percent.

During the month under review, the price of sugar rose by 26.94 percent, and the price of mustard oil increased by 9.82 percent. Similarly, the price of onions surged by 116.22 percent, garlic by 60.74 percent, and ginger by 48.32 percent. These are the food items that saw significant price hikes, while several other products also experienced varying degrees of price increases.