India’s Wholesale Inflation Rises to 8.3% in April 2026
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- Context : India’s wholesale inflation, measured by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), rose sharply to 8.3% in April 2026, the highest level in nearly 3.5 years.
- The previous higher WPI inflation was recorded in October 2022.
- WPI inflation had stood at 3.9% in March 2026, indicating a significant month-on-month jump.
- The increase is mainly attributed to the West Asia crisis, which triggered a surge in global energy prices.
- Prices of crude oil and natural gas recorded steep inflation, with inflation in this category reaching 67.2% in April 2026.
- The data was released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Despite the rise in overall wholesale inflation, food inflation remained relatively low at 2% in April 2026, compared to 1.9% in March 2026.
- Economists believe the data reflects the first visible impact of the West Asia conflict on the Indian economy.
About Wholesale Price Index (WPI)
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- The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) measures the change in prices of goods traded in bulk at the wholesale level between businesses.
- It covers only goods and does not include services, as services are not traded on a wholesale basis.
- WPI helps in analysing price movements and demand-supply conditions in sectors such as industry, manufacturing, and construction.
- The index is published every month by the Economic Adviser under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- The month-to-month increase in WPI is used to estimate the rate of wholesale inflation in the economy.
Calculation of WPI
- WPI is computed using the wholesale prices of a selected group of important commodities.
- Commodities are included based on their economic importance and representation across various sectors.
- These items collectively reflect different segments of the economy and help provide an overall picture of wholesale price trends.
- Base year used for calculation: 2011–12
