India’s WPI inflation increased in June as rising global energy prices and commodity costs put pressure on wholesale prices, the government informed Parliament on Monday. The Centre said inflation in fuel, food articles, metals and chemicals contributed to the rise, while proactive policy measures have helped contain retail inflation (CPI).
Global Energy Prices Push WPI Inflation Higher
However, the government has been actively undertaking a series of measures to control inflation and mitigate its impact on consumers, which has helped to rein in retail inflation based on the consumer price index (CPI), Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary told the Lok Sabha in a written reply to a question.
These measures include augmenting buffer stocks for essential food items, selling procured grains in the open market to bring down prices, and calibrating trade policies, he added.
On a year-on-year basis, wholesale price index (WPI) based inflation increased from 9.68 per cent in May to 9.87 per cent in June.
Government Highlights Measures to Control Inflation
However, as a result of the steps taken by the government to control inflation, the retail or Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation rate has been 3.1 per cent (January-March of FY26) and 3.9 per cent (April-June FY’27), the minister said.
“The rise in WPI inflation is largely driven by the price pressures in commodities that are more sensitive to global energy and commodity price movements, particularly mineral oils (including petroleum products), food articles, basic metals, chemicals and chemical products,” Chaudhary said.
He said that the government, in consultation with the RBI, determines the CPI retail inflation target once every five years to maintain price stability while keeping in mind the objective of promoting strong economic growth.
The government in March this year notified the CPI inflation target at 4 per cent with a lower tolerance level of 2 per cent and upper tolerance level of 6 per cent, for the period from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2031.
Food and Fuel Costs Lift June Retail Inflation
India’s retail inflation rose to 4.38 per cent in June 2026, up from 3.93 per cent in May, driven primarily by higher food prices and transport costs due to escalating fuel prices.
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