India’s wholesale inflation, based on the WPI, rose sharply to 8.30% in April 2026 from 3.88% in March 2026 and 2.26% in February 2026. The WPI index for all commodities increased to 167.0 in April from 160.8 in March. Rising prices of mineral oils, crude petroleum, natural gas, metals and manufacturing products mainly pushed inflation higher.
Primary Articles inflation climbed to 9.17% in April from 6.36% in March. The index for the segment rose to 202.4 from 197.3. Crude petroleum and natural gas prices surged 16.42% month on month, while food articles rose 1.41% and minerals increased 0.91%. Non food articles declined 0.94%.
Fuel and Power inflation jumped sharply to 24.71% in April compared with 1.05% in March. The index surged to 181.7 from 153.7. Mineral oil prices rose 29.37% month on month, while electricity prices fell 2.53%.
Manufactured Products inflation increased to 4.62% in April from 3.39% in March. The index rose to 151.6 from 149.5. Out of 22 manufacturing groups, 21 recorded price increases while only 1 group saw a decline.
Food Index inflation increased to 2.31% in April from 1.85% in March. The food index itself rose to 195.1 from 192.8. Food articles and manufactured food products both contributed to the rise.
Month on month, overall WPI inflation increased 3.86% in April after rising 1.52% in March. Fuel and Power recorded the biggest monthly jump at 18.22%, while Primary Articles rose 2.58% and Manufactured Products gained 1.40%. Food Index increased 1.19% month on month.
Among food categories, cereals inflation improved to -0.29% in April from -2.51% in March. Wheat inflation turned positive at 0.38% after remaining at -4.60% in March. Pulses stayed negative at -4.03%, while vegetables inflation eased to 0.53%. Potato inflation remained deeply negative at -30.04%, while onion inflation stood at -26.45%.
Protein related food inflation remained elevated. Milk inflation came at 2.56% in April compared with 2.62% in March. Eggs, meat and fish inflation rose further to 6.68% from 6.63%. Fruits inflation slipped to -0.21% from 2.11%.
Energy linked categories recorded the sharpest rise. Crude petroleum and natural gas inflation surged to 67.18% in April from 35.98% in March. Crude petroleum inflation alone jumped to 88.06%. Petrol inflation rose to 32.40% from 2.50%, while HSD inflation increased to 25.19% from 3.26%. LPG inflation also turned positive at 10.92%.
Within manufacturing, textiles inflation rose to 7.30%, chemicals and chemical products increased to 5.09%, basic metals climbed to 7.00%, food products rose to 2.90%, and tobacco products increased to 5.67%. Pharmaceuticals inflation remained moderate at 1.79%, while cement, lime and plaster inflation rose to 2.38%.
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