Retail inflation at 3.21% in February, up 47 basis points
CPI inflation increased by 47 basis points from 2.74% recorded in January 2026.
CPI inflation increased by 47 basis points from 2.74% recorded in January 2026.
The month-on-month change in WPI for January 2026 stood at 0.51% compared to December 2025.
Consequently, the standing deposit facility (SDF) rate remains at 5%, and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate remain at 5.50%.
Food inflation stood at (-) 3.91%, with the corresponding rural and urban inflation rates at (-) 4.05% and (-) 3.60%, respectively.
The GST reforms can moderate CPI inflation in the range of 65-75 bps over FY26-27, an SBI report has said, adding that the simpler GST 2.0 system unleashes plethora of benefits in the form of consumption boost primarily from the middle class, low inflation, ease of business and ease of living.
This is the sixth month in a row that CPI inflation has declined, and also the third consecutive month when it has stayed below the Reserve Bank of India's medium-term target of 4%.
India's wholesale price index-based inflation eased to 10.7 per cent in September as against 12.41 per cent recorded in the previous month, as per the government data released on Friday. Despite the decline, Whole Price Index (WPI) based inflation has, however, remained in double digits for the 18th month in a row.
The CPI inflation data for April is expected to be released by the statistics ministry on May 12.
Inflation expectations of urban households one year ahead showed a marginal increase over the three months ahead horizon according to the RBI's March 2021 survey.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) based retail inflation stood at 4.06 per cent in January. The previous high was witnessed at 6.93 per cent in November 2020.
