New Delhi, Feb 16 || India’s annual rate of inflation based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) was estimated at 1.81 per cent for January this year compared to the same month of the previous year, according to figures released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Monday.
Positive rate of inflation in January is primarily due to an increase in prices of the manufacture of basic metals, other manufacturing, non-food articles, food articles and textiles, the official statement said.
The month-over-month change in WPI for January 2026 stood at 0.51 per cent as compared to December, 2025.
The Food Index, consisting of 'Food Articles' from the primary articles group and 'food product' from the manufactured products group, has decreased from 196.0 in December 2025 to 194.2 in January 2026. The rate of inflation based on the WPI Food Index increased to 1.41 per cent in January compared to the same month of the previous year.