Wholesale Inflation Rises to 1.81% in January

18-Feb-2026 01:20 PM

New Delhi: Wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation increased sharply to 1.81% in January 2026, up from 0.83% in December 2025, marking the highest level in the past 10 months. The rise was mainly driven by higher prices of various vegetables, along with increases in base metals and textile products.

According to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, prices of several manufactured products, non-food items, and food articles also registered an increase in January compared to December. It is noteworthy that WPI-based inflation had remained in negative territory at (-) 1% in October 2025 and (-) 0.13% in November, before rising to 0.83% in December and further to 1.81% in January. However, this level remains lower than January 2025, when wholesale inflation stood at a higher 2.51%.

Primary articles contributed 22.62% to wholesale inflation, with their inflation rate rising to 2.2%. Food inflation moved back into positive territory after remaining negative for nine consecutive months last year. It was recorded at (-) 0.43% in December but had stood at 1.55% in January 2025.

While prices of rice, pulses, wheat, edible oils, and sugar remained largely stable in January compared to December, prices of vegetables such as potatoes, onions, and tomatoes witnessed a noticeable increase.