Higher prices of milk, pulses, fruits, rice, wheat and fuel nudged the annual inflation rate of India's food prices, as measured by the wholesale price index, or WPI, for the week ended August 21 to 10.86 per cent from the 10.05 per cent of the preceding week.
The rate of inflation for the corresponding week in the preceding year was 14.86 per cent. The 52-week average inflation for the week ended August 21 was 15.83 per cent, as per the data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The annual rate of inflation under the "Non-Food Articles" category fell to 21.29 per cent from the 22.20 per cent of the preceding week. The 52-week average inflation for the week ended August 21 was 12.79 per cent.
Primary articles
The annual rate of inflation for the week ended August 21 was 15.19 per cent, lower to the 14.75 per cent for the preceding week. It was 8.87 per cent for the corresponding week of the preceding year. The 52-week average inflation for the week under review was 14.93 per cent, show the data.
The index for this group, with a weightage of 22.02 per cent, increased by 1.43 per cent over the preceding week.
Here are the groups and items for which the WPI showed variations:
The index for the "Food Articles" category increased by 1.81 per cent from the preceding week, due to the higher prices of fish-inland, fruits and vegetables and gram. However, the prices of moong, eggs and masur declined.
The index for the "Non-Food Articles" group rose by 0.38 per cent, due to the higher prices of raw silk, groundnutseed, raw cotton, copra, rapeseed and mustardseed, while those of castorseed, raw rubber and gingellyseed dropped.
The index for the "Minerals" group rose by 1.44 per cent, due to higher prices of fluorite, barytes and iron ore, whereas those of steatite, asbestos and feldspar declined.
Fuel, Power, Light & Lubricants
The annual rate of inflation under this category was 12.71 per cent, higher to the 12.57 per cent for the preceding week. It was minus 8.82 per cent for the corresponding week of the preceding year. The 52-week average inflation for the week under review was 6.76 per cent.
The index for this major group, carrying a weightage of 14.23 per cent, rose by 0.21 per cent, due to the higher prices of light diesel oil, furnace oil and aviation turbine fuel and naphtha. However, the prices of bitumen fell.
With the inflation still in double-digits in recent months, the Reserve Bank of India or RBI wants to get prices under control. It continues to expect further policy-tightening in the coming months, forecasting benchmark rates to be hiked another 50 basis points by the year-end.
The RBI raised interest rates four times since mid-March, saying it might have to give precedence to containing inflation over other policy objectives.
The ruling Congress party has said that controlling prices must be the top goal in the face of popular discontent with rising costs affecting hundreds of millions of persons.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.