India’s wholesale price inflation rose marginally to 9.92 per cent in August 2026, compared with 9.78 per cent in July 2026, according to the provisional estimates of the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) released on Monday.
The All India WPI for all commodities increased to 110.8 in August, from 110.0 in July, reflecting continued price pressures across key segments of the economy. Fuel and power emerged as the strongest source of inflationary pressure, while manufactured products also recorded a marginal increase in inflation.
Fuel and power inflation accelerates
Inflation in the Fuel and Power group increased sharply to 22.93 per cent in August, from 20.05 per cent in July.
Within the group, inflation in Mineral Oils rose to 38.48 per cent, compared with 32.40 per cent in July, while inflation in Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas stood at 34.41 per cent against 26.99 per cent in the previous month.
Coal and lignite moved into positive inflation territory at 1.57 per cent, compared with -0.56 per cent in July. Electricity, however, recorded deflation of 1.73 per cent, against inflation of 1.09 per cent in July.
The Fuel and Power index rose to 108.3 in August, from 105.4 in July.
Manufactured products inflation edges up
Inflation in the Manufactured Products group increased to 8.37 per cent in August, from 8.29 per cent in July. The index rose to 108.8 from 108.4.
Among major manufacturing segments, Manufacture of Food Products recorded inflation of 9.65 per cent, up from 8.89 per cent in July. Inflation in chemicals and chemical products increased to 14.30 per cent from 13.12 per cent, while rubber and plastic products recorded inflation of 11.18 per cent.
Inflation in basic metals moderated to 10.88 per cent, from 12.56 per cent in July. Electrical equipment inflation stood at 11.11 per cent, compared with 12.34 per cent in July.
Textile inflation remained elevated at 12.63 per cent, while tobacco products recorded inflation of 13.17 per cent.
Motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers recorded inflation of 3.70 per cent, up from 1.80 per cent in July, while other transport equipment recorded 4.93 per cent inflation.
Primary articles inflation moderates
Inflation in the Primary Articles group moderated to 7.76 per cent in August, from 8.52 per cent in July. The group index increased from 117.2 to 118.1.
Inflation in food articles rose slightly to 5.67 per cent, from 5.44 per cent in July. Non-food articles, however, saw inflation ease to 14.79 per cent from 17.66 per cent.
Minerals inflation declined to 8.24 per cent, compared with 13.28 per cent in July.
Food inflation rises to 7.05%
The WPI Food Index, which carries a weight of 24.99 per cent and comprises food articles from Primary Articles and manufactured food products, recorded inflation of 7.05 per cent in August, compared with 6.65 per cent in July.
The Food Index rose to 118.5, from 117.1 in July.
The increase was supported by higher inflation in both primary food articles and manufactured food products, with the latter registering 9.65 per cent inflation during the month.
Major drivers of August WPI inflation
According to the provisional estimates, the major contributors to WPI inflation during August included mineral oils containing petroleum products, food articles, manufacture of food products, manufacture of basic metals, non-food articles, and manufacture of chemicals and chemical products.
On a cumulative basis, WPI inflation during April-August 2026-27 stood at 9.56 per cent, significantly higher than -0.20 per cent recorded during the corresponding period of 2025-26 and 1.72 per cent in 2024-25.
The cumulative inflation rate during the first five months of the current financial year was particularly high in Fuel and Power at 25.20 per cent, driven by mineral oils at 41.65 per cent and crude petroleum and natural gas at 42.60 per cent.
Manufactured Products recorded cumulative inflation of 7.78 per cent, while Primary Articles registered 6.45 per cent.
June WPI inflation revised upward
The final WPI index for June 2026 has been revised to 110.3, from the earlier provisional estimate of 110.2.
Consequently, June WPI inflation has been revised upward to 9.97 per cent, from the provisional estimate of 9.87 per cent.
The final June estimate was compiled with a weighted response rate of 99.3 per cent, while the provisional August estimate was compiled with a weighted response rate of 84.4 per cent.
Output PPI also records increase
Alongside WPI, the government released provisional estimates of the Output Producer Price Index (PPI) for August 2026.
The All India Output PPI for all commodities rose to 110.8 in August, from 109.9 in July.
The Output PPI for Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing increased to 116.5 from 115.6, while the index for Mining and Quarrying rose to 122.0 from 119.4.
The Output PPI for Manufactured Products increased to 109.7 from 108.8, while the index for electricity declined to 90.9 from 92.4.
The final Output PPI index for June 2026 has been revised from 109.9 to 110.0.
On a cumulative April-August basis, the Output PPI for all commodities stood at 109.9 in 2026-27, compared with 100.4 in 2025-26.
Trial Input PPI stands at 104.2
The provisional trial Input Producer Price Index (IPPI) for the manufacturing sector stood at 104.2 in August 2026.
The index declined from 105.9 in July, indicating a moderation in overall input prices for the manufacturing sector.
Among major industries, input prices for food products increased to 114.7, while chemicals and chemical products rose to 110.8. Electrical equipment recorded an index of 118.7, while basic metals stood at 101.8.
The index for manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products declined sharply to 86.7 in August from 99.9 in July.
The final Input PPI for June 2026 has also been revised, from the provisional 107.1 to 105.9.
WPI data to be released monthly under the new base year
The WPI series is based on 2022-23 as the base year. Item-wise data for the WPI series from April 2023 to August 2026 is available through the Office of Economic Adviser.
Provisional WPI, Output PPI and trial Input PPI indices for a reference month are released on the 14th of the following month, provided the date is a working day.
Accordingly, the provisional estimates for September 2026 are scheduled to be released on October 14, 2026.
