EconomyPrices
What did the latest CPI release say?
India's consumer price inflation was 4.8% in August 2026, above the RBI's 4% target, inside its band, against 4.5% in July 2026. Food prices rose 5.7% and core prices 4.4%.
Written for anyone who wants the CPI release in plain words, on the day it comes out. CPI for August 2026.
August 2026
Consumer prices were 4.8% higher in August 2026 than a year earlier, up from 4.5% the month before. Food and drink prices rose 5.7%, and prices excluding food and fuel rose 4.4%.
Food added 2.1 points of the 4.8%, fuel added 0.2 points and everything else added 2.6 points.
Underneath, the weighted median of the 358 items rose 3.5% and the trimmed means 3.4% (25% cut from each end) and 3.7% (10%). Excluding food, fuel, gold and silver, prices rose 3.3%.
25% of the basket by weight rose faster than 6% and 27% slower than 2%; 315 of 358 items cost more than a year earlier.
Against the month before, the biggest push came from onion (its contribution up 0.12 points, with prices 48% above a year earlier) and the biggest pull from tomato (down 0.18 points).
After seasonal adjustment prices rose 0.8% in the month, 6.5% at an annualised rate over three months.
MoSPI's figures for the latest month are provisional and revised the next month. The next release, for October 2026, is due on 12 November 2026; this page updates the same day.
What added most
An item's contribution is its weight in the basket times its price rise over the year. In August 2026 the largest came from silver jewellery (0.43 points), then petrol (0.32 points) and gold /diamond /platinum jewellery (0.27 points).
The items adding most and least to inflation, Aug 2026
Percentage points of headline inflation over the year: the twelve items adding most and the six adding least.
How to read it. Bars to the right push inflation up; to the left, prices that fell pulled it down.
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Every measure, this month and last
Each measure for August 2026 against July 2026, all as now published. Rates are over twelve months; the basket share is by weight.
| Measure | Jul 2026 | Now | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headline | 4.5% | 4.8% | up 0.4 points |
| Food and drink | 5.2% | 5.7% | up 0.4 points |
| Fuel and light | 2.0% | 3.1% | up 1.1 points |
| Excluding food and fuel | 4.2% | 4.4% | up 0.3 points |
| Excluding food, fuel, gold and silver | 3.1% | 3.3% | up 0.2 points |
| Excluding food, fuel, petrol and diesel | 3.9% | 4.2% | up 0.3 points |
| Weighted median of 358 items | 3.1% | 3.5% | up 0.4 points |
| Trimmed mean, 25% each end | 3.0% | 3.4% | up 0.3 points |
| Basket rising faster than 6% | 23% | 25% | up 1.7 points |
| Rural | 4.8% | 5.2% | up 0.4 points |
| Urban | 4.0% | 4.3% | up 0.4 points |
The picture
The latest month in context: headline, food and core over the past three years.
Consumer price inflation, last three years
Change over twelve months, monthly.
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Earlier months
Every month since January 2026, the first with yearly changes on the new basket, written by the same rules from the data as now published. Earlier months are in the charts on the prices overview.
July 20264.5% (up from 4.4%); food 5.2%, core 4.2%
Consumer prices were 4.5% higher in July 2026 than a year earlier, up from 4.4% the month before. Food and drink prices rose 5.2%, and prices excluding food and fuel rose 4.2%.
Food added 1.9 points of the 4.5%, fuel added 0.1 points and everything else added 2.4 points.
Underneath, the weighted median of the 358 items rose 3.1% and the trimmed means 3.0% (25% cut from each end) and 3.4% (10%). Excluding food, fuel, gold and silver, prices rose 3.1%.
23% of the basket by weight rose faster than 6% and 30% slower than 2%; 306 of 358 items cost more than a year earlier.
Against the month before, the biggest push came from chicken (its contribution up 0.12 points, with prices 20% above a year earlier) and the biggest pull from tomato (down 0.15 points).
After seasonal adjustment prices rose 0.1% in the month, 4.9% at an annualised rate over three months.
June 20264.4% (up from 3.9%); food 5.1%, core 4.2%
Consumer prices were 4.4% higher in June 2026 than a year earlier, up from 3.9% the month before. Food and drink prices rose 5.1%, and prices excluding food and fuel rose 4.2%.
Food added 1.8 points of the 4.4%, fuel added 0.1 points and everything else added 2.4 points.
Underneath, the weighted median of the 358 items rose 2.7% and the trimmed means 2.9% (25% cut from each end) and 3.3% (10%). Excluding food, fuel, gold and silver, prices rose 2.9%.
23% of the basket by weight rose faster than 6% and 33% slower than 2%; 309 of 358 items cost more than a year earlier.
Against the month before, the biggest push came from petrol (its contribution up 0.19 points, with prices 8% above a year earlier) and the biggest pull from silver jewellery (down 0.06 points).
After seasonal adjustment prices rose 0.7% in the month, 4.7% at an annualised rate over three months.
May 20263.9% (up from 3.5%); food 4.5%, core 3.8%
Consumer prices were 3.9% higher in May 2026 than a year earlier, up from 3.5% the month before. Food and drink prices rose 4.5%, and prices excluding food and fuel rose 3.8%.
Food added 1.7 points of the 3.9%, fuel added 0.0 points and everything else added 2.2 points.
Underneath, the weighted median of the 358 items rose 2.3% and the trimmed means 2.5% (25% cut from each end) and 2.7% (10%). Excluding food, fuel, gold and silver, prices rose 2.4%.
14% of the basket by weight rose faster than 6% and 35% slower than 2%; 305 of 358 items cost more than a year earlier.
Against the month before, the biggest push came from petrol (its contribution up 0.13 points, with prices 3% above a year earlier) and the biggest pull from cauliflower (down 0.03 points).
After seasonal adjustment prices rose 0.4% in the month, 3.5% at an annualised rate over three months.
April 20263.5% (up from 3.4%); food 4.0%, core 3.4%
Consumer prices were 3.5% higher in April 2026 than a year earlier, up from 3.4% the month before. Food and drink prices rose 4.0%, and prices excluding food and fuel rose 3.4%.
Food added 1.5 points of the 3.5%, fuel added 0.0 points and everything else added 2.0 points.
Underneath, the weighted median of the 358 items rose 2.0% and the trimmed means 2.3% (25% cut from each end) and 2.4% (10%). Excluding food, fuel, gold and silver, prices rose 2.0%.
13% of the basket by weight rose faster than 6% and 41% slower than 2%; 301 of 358 items cost more than a year earlier.
Against the month before, the biggest push came from onion (its contribution up 0.08 points, with prices 18% below a year earlier) and the biggest pull from chicken (down 0.06 points).
After seasonal adjustment prices rose 0.0% in the month, 3.7% at an annualised rate over three months.
March 20263.4% (up from 3.2%); food 3.7%, core 3.4%
Consumer prices were 3.4% higher in March 2026 than a year earlier, up from 3.2% the month before. Food and drink prices rose 3.7%, and prices excluding food and fuel rose 3.4%.
Food added 1.3 points of the 3.4%, fuel added 0.1 points and everything else added 2.0 points.
Underneath, the weighted median of the 358 items rose 2.0% and the trimmed means 2.2% (25% cut from each end) and 2.3% (10%). Excluding food, fuel, gold and silver, prices rose 1.9%.
11% of the basket by weight rose faster than 6% and 51% slower than 2%; 296 of 358 items cost more than a year earlier.
Against the month before, the biggest push came from garlic (its contribution up 0.08 points, with prices 10% below a year earlier) and the biggest pull from tomato (down 0.03 points).
After seasonal adjustment prices rose 0.4% in the month, 7.6% at an annualised rate over three months.
February 20263.2% (up from 2.7%); food 3.3%, core 3.4%
Consumer prices were 3.2% higher in February 2026 than a year earlier, up from 2.7% the month before. Food and drink prices rose 3.3%, and prices excluding food and fuel rose 3.4%.
Food added 1.2 points of the 3.2%, fuel added 0.0 points and everything else added 2.0 points.
Underneath, the weighted median of the 358 items rose 2.1% and the trimmed means 2.2% (25% cut from each end) and 2.2% (10%). Excluding food, fuel, gold and silver, prices rose 1.9%.
12% of the basket by weight rose faster than 6% and 49% slower than 2%; 295 of 358 items cost more than a year earlier.
Against the month before, the biggest push came from garlic (its contribution up 0.13 points, with prices 31% below a year earlier) and the biggest pull from tomato (down 0.09 points).
After seasonal adjustment prices rose 0.5% in the month, 8.8% at an annualised rate over three months.
January 20262.7% (up from 1.3%); food 2.1%, core 3.4%
Consumer prices were 2.7% higher in January 2026 than a year earlier, up from 1.3% the month before. Food and drink prices rose 2.1%, and prices excluding food and fuel rose 3.4%.
This was the first month of yearly changes on the new basket (base 2024). MoSPI links only the headline index to the old basket, so food, core and the item measures below start here and are not compared with December.
Food added 0.8 points of the 2.7%, fuel added 0.0 points and everything else added 2.0 points.
Underneath, the weighted median of the 358 items rose 2.1% and the trimmed means 2.2% (25% cut from each end) and 2.1% (10%). Excluding food, fuel, gold and silver, prices rose 1.9%.
10% of the basket by weight rose faster than 6% and 49% slower than 2%; 292 of 358 items cost more than a year earlier.
After seasonal adjustment prices rose 1.0% in the month, 8.0% at an annualised rate over three months.
The workings
The question
Data
Every chart has a table view, a CSV download and a link to its published JSON. Bundles are listed in data status.