India's Wholesale Inflation Rises to 11.39% in September on Higher Fuel and Food Prices

New Delhi, Oct 14 (IANS): India's wholesale price inflation accelerated to 11.39 per cent in September from 9.92 per cent in August, driven by rising prices of fuel, crude petroleum, food items and several manufactured products, according to provisional government data released on Wednesday.

Data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed that the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for all commodities increased to 112.5 in September from 110.8 in August.

Meanwhile, the final WPI for July remained unchanged at 110.0, with the annual inflation rate holding steady at 9.78 per cent, the ministry said.

Among the major categories, inflation in primary articles rose to 8.67 per cent in September from 7.76 per cent in the previous month. Inflation in fuel and power climbed to 25.85 per cent from 22.93 per cent, while inflation in manufactured products, which carry the highest weight in the index, stood at 9.76 per cent.

The ministry identified mineral oils, food articles, crude petroleum and natural gas, coal and lignite, basic metals, chemicals and chemical products, textiles, rubber and plastic products, and electrical equipment as key contributors to wholesale price inflation during September.

The WPI Food Index also registered a sharp increase, with annual inflation rising to 8.66 per cent in September from 7.05 per cent in August.

Within the fuel segment, inflation in mineral oils stood at 40.02 per cent, while crude petroleum and natural gas recorded year-on-year inflation of 57.32 per cent.

The overall index for fuel and power increased to 110.5 in September from 108.3 in August, reflecting the rise in prices across the segment.

Separately, the Output Producer Price Index (PPI) for all commodities rose to 112.5 in September from 110.8 in the previous month. The trial Input Producer Price Index (IPPI) for the manufacturing sector also increased, reaching 106.1 in September compared with 104.2 in August.

According to the ministry, the final WPI index for July 2026, based on the 2022-23 base year, was compiled with a weighted response rate of 98.97 per cent.

The provisional WPI index for September 2026 was compiled with a weighted response rate of 83.4 per cent, it added.

The government is scheduled to release WPI, Output PPI and trial Input PPI data for October on November 16.