Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 16: India’s wholesale inflation, measured by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), stood at 1.81 per cent in January compared with the same month last year, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Monday.

The uptick in wholesale prices was largely driven by cost increases in basic metals, food products, textiles, non-food articles and other manufactured goods, the ministry said. On a month-to-month basis, WPI rose by 0.51 per cent in January 2026 over December 2025.

The Food Index — which combines ‘Food Articles’ under primary articles and ‘Food Products’ under manufactured goods — eased marginally from 196.0 in December to 194.2 in January. However, on a year-on-year basis, food inflation under WPI edged up to 1.41 per cent.

Manufacturing, which accounts for 64.23 per cent of the WPI basket, recorded a 1.3 per cent increase during the month. Of the 22 manufacturing categories, 19 registered price gains, led by basic metals, food products, textiles, electrical equipment and other manufacturing segments. In contrast, prices declined in pharmaceuticals and medicinal products, machinery and equipment, and furniture compared to the previous month.

Separately, retail inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) with the revised 2024 base year was estimated at 2.75 per cent in January year-on-year, as per figures released earlier by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. Food inflation under CPI stood at 2.13 per cent.

Vegetable prices showed mixed trends during the month. Rates of potatoes, onions and garlic declined, as did those of pulses such as arhar and tur, while tomato prices moved higher. Housing inflation was recorded at 2.05 per cent.

The data also highlighted a sharp surge in precious metal jewellery prices, with silver jewellery inflation soaring to 159.67 per cent and gold jewellery rising by 46.77 per cent year-on-year.