India Wholesale Price Index Inflation at 3.88% in March 2026 (Provisional)
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Index Numbers of Wholesale Price in India for the Month of March, 2026 (Base Year: 2011-12)
Posted On: 15 APR 2026 12:00PM by PIB Delhi
The annual rate of inflation based on All India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) number is 3.88% (provisional) for the month of March, 2026 (over March, 2025). Positive rate of inflation in March, 2026 is primarily due to increase in prices of crude petroleum & natural gas, other manufacturing, non-food articles, manufacture of basic metals and food articles etc. The index numbers and inflation rate for the last three months of all commodities and WPI components are given below:
Index Numbers and Annual Rate of Inflation (Y-o-Y in %) * | |||||||
| All Commodities/Major Groups | Weight (%) | Jan-26 (F) | Feb-26 (P) | Mar-26 (P) | |||
| Index | Inflation | Index | Inflation | Index | Inflation | ||
| All Commodities | 100.00 | 157.6 | 1.68 | 158.2 | 2.13 | 160.8 | 3.88 |
| I. Primary Articles | 22.62 | 194.0 | 2.27 | 192.9 | 3.27 | 197.3 | 6.36 |
| II. Fuel & Power | 13.15 | 145.9 | -4.01 | 147.6 | -3.78 | 153.7 | 1.05 |
| III. Manufactured Products | 64.23 | 147.1 | 2.58 | 148.2 | 2.92 | 149.5 | 3.39 |
| Food Index | 24.38 | 194.4 | 1.51 | 192.9 | 1.85 | 192.8 | 1.85 |
Note: F: Final, P: Provisional, *Annual rate of WPI inflation is calculated over the corresponding month of previous year
2. The month over month change in WPI for the month of March, 2026 stood at 1.64 % as compared to February, 2026. The monthly change in WPI for last six-month is summarized below:
Month Over Month (M-o-M in %) change in WPI Index# | |||||||
| All Commodities/Major Groups | Weight | Oct-25 | Nov-25 | Dec-25 | Jan-26 (F) | Feb-26 (P) | Mar-26 (P) |
| All Commodities | 100.00 | 0.06 | 0.71 | 0.64 | 0.25 | 0.38 | 1.64 |
| I. Primary Articles | 22.62 | -0.37 | 2.23 | 0.67 | -0.10 | -0.57 | 2.28 |
| II. Fuel & Power | 13.15 | 1.26 | 0.83 | 1.30 | -1.62 | 1.17 | 4.13 |
| III. Manufactured Products | 64.23 | 0.07 | -0.07 | 0.48 | 0.82 | 0.75 | 0.88 |
| Food Index | 24.38 | -0.05 | 1.67 | 0.36 | -0.77 | -0.77 | -0.05 |
Note: F: Final, P: Provisional, #Monthly rate of change, based on month over month (M-o-M) is calculated over the preceding month
3. Month-over-Month Change in Major Groups of WPI:
Primary Articles (Weight 22.62%): – The index for this major group increased by 2.28 % from 192.9 (provisional) for the month of February, 2026 to 197.3 (provisional) in March, 2026. The Price of crude petroleum & natural gas (36.16 %) and minerals (0.12%) increased in March, 2026 as compared to February, 2026. The Price of food articles (-0.85%) and non- food articles (-0.22 %) decreased in March, 2026 as compared to February, 2026.
Fuel & Power (Weight 13.15%): – The index for this major group increased by 4.13 % from 147.6 (provisional) for the month of February, 2026 to 153.7 (provisional) in March, 2026. The Price of mineral oils (8.77 %) increased in March, 2026 as compared to February, 2026. The Price of electricity (-5.07%) decreased in March, 2026 as compared to February, 2026.
Manufactured Products (Weight 64.23%): – The index for this major group increased by 0.88 % from 148.2 (provisional) for the month of February, 2026 to 149.5 (provisional) in March, 2026. Out of the 22 NIC two-digit groups for manufactured products, 16 groups witnessed an increase in prices and 6 groups witnessed a decrease in prices. Some of the important groups that showed month-over-month increase in prices were manufacture of food products; chemicals and chemical products; basic metals; textiles and other manufacturing etc. some of the groups that witnessed a decrease in prices were manufacture of machinery and equipment; beverages; fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment; computer, electronic and optical products and wearing apparel etc in march, 2026 as compared to February, 2026.
4. WPI Food Index (Weight 24.38%): The Food Index consisting of ‘Food Articles’ from Primary Articles group and ‘Food Product’ from Manufactured Products group have marginally decreased from 192.9 in February, 2026 to 192.8 in March, 2026. The rate of inflation (Y-o-Y) based on WPI Food Index remain constant at 1.85 % in March, 2026.
5. Final Index for the month of January, 2026 (Base Year: 2011-12=100): For the month of January, 2026, the final Wholesale Price Index and inflation rate for ‘All Commodities’ (Base: 2011-12=100) stood at 157.6 and 1.68% respectively.
The details of all India Wholesale Price Indices and Rates of Inflation for different commodity groups based on updated figures are at Annex I. The Annual rate of Inflation (Y-o-Y) based on WPI for different commodity groups in the last six months is at Annex II. WPI for different commodity groups in the last six months is at Annex III.
Response Rate: The WPI for March, 2026 has been compiled at a weighted response rate of 77.8 per cent, while the final figure for January, 2026 is based on the weighted response rate of 92.7 per cent. The provisional figures of WPI will undergo revision as per the revision policy of WPI. This press release, item indices, and inflation numbers are available at our website https://eaindustry.nic.in.
Next date of Press Release: WPI for the month of April, 2026 would be released on 14/05/2026.
Note: DPIIT releases index number of wholesale price in India on monthly basis on 14th of every month (or next working day, if 14th falls on holiday) with a time lag of two weeks of the reference month, and the index number is compiled with data received from institutional sources and selected manufacturing units across the country. This press release contains WPI (Base Year 2011-12=100) for the month of March, 2026 (Provisional), January, 2026 (Final) and other months/years. Provisional figures of WPI are finalised after 10 weeks (from the month of reference), and frozen thereafter.
Annex-I
All India Wholesale Price Indices and Rates of Inflation (Base Year: 2011-12=100) for March, 2026
Commodities/Major Groups/Groups/Sub-Groups/Items | Weight | Index Mar-26* | Latest month over Month (MoM) | Inflation (YoY) | Rate of Inflation (YoY) | |||
| Feb-Mar 2024-25 | Feb-Mar 2025-26* | 2024-25 (Apr-Mar) | 2025-26 (Apr-Mar) | March 2025 | March 2026* | |||
| ALL COMMODITIES | 100.00 | 160.8 | -0.06 | 1.64 | 2.27 | 0.70 | 2.25 | 3.88 |
| I. PRIMARY ARTICLES | 22.62 | 197.3 | -0.70 | 2.28 | 5.18 | -1.08 | 1.26 | 6.36 |
| A. Food Articles | 15.26 | 198.5 | -0.56 | -0.85 | 7.33 | -2.30 | 1.78 | 1.90 |
| Cereals | 2.82 | 205.8 | -0.94 | -1.01 | 7.88 | -0.05 | 5.44 | -2.51 |
| Paddy | 1.43 | 203.5 | -0.20 | -0.39 | 8.40 | 0.02 | 3.67 | 0.15 |
| Wheat | 1.03 | 207.6 | -1.63 | -1.80 | 7.68 | 1.16 | 8.20 | -4.60 |
| Pulses | 0.64 | 194.4 | -2.05 | -1.27 | 10.73 | -12.25 | -3.03 | -5.17 |
| Vegetables | 1.87 | 182.0 | -4.68 | -7.66 | 16.71 | -16.77 | -14.98 | 1.45 |
| Potato | 0.28 | 143.9 | -7.67 | -8.34 | 65.71 | -36.28 | -6.77 | -27.94 |
| Onion | 0.16 | 157.8 | -10.27 | -12.04 | 42.55 | -47.53 | 26.15 | -42.11 |
| Fruits | 1.60 | 223.1 | 4.15 | 2.67 | 12.04 | 1.62 | 20.78 | 2.11 |
| Milk | 4.44 | 192.1 | 0.38 | 0.00 | 3.05 | 2.74 | 1.63 | 2.62 |
| Eggs, Meat & Fish | 2.40 | 181.7 | -0.64 | 0.55 | 0.72 | 1.63 | 0.89 | 6.63 |
| B. Non-Food Articles | 4.12 | 181.3 | -2.63 | -0.22 | -0.42 | 4.66 | 1.62 | 11.50 |
| Oil Seeds | 1.12 | 220.2 | 0.22 | -1.83 | -1.94 | 11.89 | 0.34 | 22.81 |
| C. Minerals | 0.83 | 253.4 | 7.72 | 0.12 | 5.20 | 6.58 | 10.79 | 3.22 |
| D. Crude Petroleum & Natural gas | 2.41 | 197.3 | -2.42 | 36.16 | -1.54 | -5.15 | -7.64 | 35.98 |
| Crude Petroleum | 1.95 | 183.1 | -2.89 | 49.10 | -2.55 | -7.18 | -11.50 | 51.57 |
| II. FUEL & POWER | 13.15 | 153.7 | -0.85 | 4.13 | -1.34 | -2.86 | 0.00 | 1.05 |
| LPG | 0.64 | 121.8 | 0.57 | 3.84 | 2.77 | -4.73 | 0.24 | -1.54 |
| Petrol | 1.60 | 155.6 | -0.46 | 7.83 | -3.73 | -4.43 | -3.86 | 2.50 |
| HSD | 3.10 | 170.8 | -0.72 | 6.48 | -3.40 | -3.15 | -2.88 | 3.26 |
| III. MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS | 64.23 | 149.5 | 0.42 | 0.88 | 1.74 | 2.31 | 3.21 | 3.39 |
| Mf/o Food Products | 9.12 | 183.4 | 0.78 | 1.49 | 7.21 | 4.16 | 11.10 | 1.83 |
| Vegetable & Animal Oils and Fats | 2.64 | 194.6 | 0.79 | 2.26 | 16.26 | 10.94 | 31.37 | 1.67 |
| Mf/o Beverages | 0.91 | 135.3 | 0.07 | -0.37 | 1.94 | 1.11 | 1.74 | 0.37 |
| Mf/o Tobacco Products | 0.51 | 191.7 | 1.17 | 0.31 | 2.46 | 3.11 | 3.18 | 5.39 |
| Mf/o Textiles | 4.88 | 143.2 | -0.29 | 1.27 | 1.24 | 1.71 | 1.64 | 4.91 |
| Mf/o Wearing Apparel | 0.81 | 157.3 | 0.13 | -0.19 | 1.72 | 1.84 | 1.98 | 1.81 |
| Mf/o Leather and Related Products | 0.54 | 129.2 | -0.79 | 0.62 | 0.91 | 2.15 | 1.37 | 3.03 |
| Mf/o Wood and Products of Wood and Cork | 0.77 | 151.7 | 0.13 | 0.33 | 1.81 | 0.91 | 0.60 | 1.13 |
| Mf/o Paper and Paper Products | 1.11 | 142.2 | -0.14 | 1.07 | -0.76 | 0.86 | 2.17 | 0.85 |
| Mf/o Chemicals and Chemical Products | 6.47 | 139.9 | 0.00 | 1.45 | -0.30 | 0.71 | 0.96 | 2.19 |
| Mf/o Pharmaceuticals, Medicinal Chemical and Botanical Products | 1.99 | 146.7 | -0.21 | 0.55 | 1.01 | 1.14 | 0.98 | 1.31 |
| Mf/o Rubber and Plastics Products | 2.30 | 131.2 | 0.08 | 1.55 | 1.21 | 0.16 | 1.33 | 1.00 |
| Mf/o other Non-Metallic Mineral Products | 3.20 | 134.1 | -0.68 | 0.30 | -2.39 | 1.32 | -0.53 | 1.28 |
| Cement, Lime and Plaster | 1.64 | 132.4 | -1.36 | 0.00 | -5.04 | 1.20 | -2.46 | 1.07 |
| Mf/o Basic Metals | 9.65 | 145.1 | 1.16 | 0.83 | -0.93 | -0.16 | 0.58 | 4.01 |
| Mild Steel – Semi Finished Steel | 1.27 | 118.7 | 0.77 | 0.59 | -1.67 | -1.13 | 1.11 | 0.34 |
| Mf/o Fabricated Metal Products, Except Machinery and Equipment | 3.15 | 136.2 | 0.22 | -0.07 | -1.87 | 0.53 | 0.15 | -0.15 |
Note: * = Provisional. Mf/o = Manufacture of
Annex-II
WPI Inflation (Base Year: 2011-12=100) for last 6 months
Commodities/Major Groups/Groups/Sub-Groups/Items | Weight | WPI based inflation (YoY) figures for last 6 months | |||||
| Oct-25 | Nov-25 | Dec-25 | Jan-26 | Feb-26* | Mar-26* | ||
| ALL COMMODITIES | 100.00 | -1.02 | -0.13 | 0.96 | 1.68 | 2.13 | 3.88 |
| I. PRIMARY ARTICLES | 22.62 | -5.93 | -2.53 | 0.21 | 2.27 | 3.27 | 6.36 |
| A. Food Articles | 15.26 | -8.31 | -4.07 | -0.53 | 1.65 | 2.19 | 1.90 |
| Cereals | 2.82 | -0.91 | -1.66 | -1.18 | -1.41 | -2.44 | -2.51 |
| Paddy | 1.43 | -1.17 | -1.07 | 0.10 | 0.89 | 0.34 | 0.15 |
| Wheat | 1.03 | 0.81 | -1.12 | -1.58 | -2.32 | -4.43 | -4.60 |
| Pulses | 0.64 | -16.59 | -15.21 | -13.79 | -10.41 | -5.92 | -5.17 |
| Vegetables | 1.87 | -35.00 | -19.87 | -3.60 | 6.74 | 4.73 | 1.45 |
| Potato | 0.28 | -39.56 | -36.19 | -38.87 | -39.15 | -27.42 | -27.94 |
| Onion | 0.16 | -66.06 | -64.70 | -54.40 | -33.42 | -40.95 | -42.11 |
| Fruits | 1.60 | -7.60 | -0.45 | 1.97 | 2.44 | 3.57 | 2.11 |
| Milk | 4.44 | 3.23 | 3.35 | 3.23 | 2.51 | 3.00 | 2.62 |
| Eggs, Meat & Fish | 2.40 | 1.93 | 2.08 | 1.14 | 3.66 | 5.36 | 6.63 |
| B. Non-Food Articles | 4.12 | 2.10 | 3.93 | 3.55 | 7.70 | 8.80 | 11.50 |
| Oil Seeds | 1.12 | 6.90 | 9.54 | 14.93 | 19.25 | 25.38 | 22.81 |
| C. Minerals | 0.83 | 10.32 | 12.25 | 11.34 | 11.40 | 11.06 | 3.22 |
| D. Crude Petroleum & Natural gas | 2.41 | -7.54 | -8.66 | -5.99 | -7.82 | -2.56 | 35.98 |
| Crude Petroleum | 1.95 | -13.56 | -13.92 | -10.04 | -11.23 | -1.29 | 51.57 |
| II. FUEL & POWER | 13.15 | -2.42 | -2.33 | -2.31 | -4.01 | -3.78 | 1.05 |
| LPG | 0.64 | -9.52 | -12.78 | -14.04 | -7.68 | -4.63 | -1.54 |
| Petrol | 1.60 | -2.60 | -1.75 | -1.88 | -4.58 | -5.38 | 2.50 |
| HSD | 3.10 | -1.89 | -1.64 | -2.07 | -4.29 | -3.72 | 3.26 |
| III. MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS | 64.23 | 1.68 | 1.47 | 2.03 | 2.58 | 2.92 | 3.39 |
| Mf/o Food Products | 9.12 | 1.76 | 0.73 | 0.96 | 1.30 | 1.12 | 1.83 |
| Vegetable & Animal Oils and Fats | 2.64 | 4.83 | 1.53 | 0.27 | 0.64 | 0.21 | 1.67 |
| Mf/o Beverages | 0.91 | 1.04 | 0.89 | 0.67 | 0.97 | 0.82 | 0.37 |
| Mf/o Tobacco Products | 0.51 | 3.18 | 2.77 | 2.00 | 1.16 | 6.28 | 5.39 |
| Mf/o Textiles | 4.88 | 1.91 | 1.91 | 1.75 | 2.34 | 3.29 | 4.91 |
| Mf/o Wearing Apparel | 0.81 | 1.62 | 2.28 | 1.49 | 2.01 | 2.14 | 1.81 |
| Mf/o Leather and Related Products | 0.54 | 1.35 | 1.59 | 1.27 | 0.94 | 1.58 | 3.03 |
| Mf/o Wood and Products of Wood and Cork | 0.77 | 1.61 | 1.41 | 1.69 | 1.07 | 0.93 | 1.13 |
| Mf/o Paper and Paper Products | 1.11 | 0.36 | 1.37 | 1.45 | 0.79 | -0.35 | 0.85 |
| Mf/o Chemicals and Chemical Products | 6.47 | 0.37 | 0.22 | 0.51 | 0.51 | 0.73 | 2.19 |
| Mf/o Pharmaceuticals, Medicinal Chemical and Botanical Products | 1.99 | 1.88 | 1.60 | 1.46 | 0.28 | 0.55 | 1.31 |
| Mf/o Rubber and Plastics Products | 2.30 | -0.54 | -0.08 | -0.85 | -0.62 | -0.46 | 1.00 |
| Mf/o other Non-Metallic Mineral Products | 3.20 | 1.69 | 0.76 | 0.61 | 0.83 | 0.30 | 1.28 |
| Cement, Lime and Plaster | 1.64 | 1.94 | 0.31 | 0.08 | 1.23 | -0.30 | 1.07 |
| Mf/o Basic Metals | 9.65 | -1.58 | -1.23 | 0.07 | 3.21 | 4.35 | 4.01 |
| Mild Steel – Semi Finished Steel | 1.27 | -3.05 | -3.49 | -1.71 | 0.26 | 0.51 | 0.34 |
| Mf/o Fabricated Metal Products, Except Machinery and Equipment | 3.15 | 1.26 | 0.74 | 0.15 | 1.03 | 0.15 | -0.15 |
Note: * = Provisional. Mf/o = Manufacture of
Annex-III
Wholesale Price Indices (Base Year: 2011-12=100) for last 6 months
Commodities/Major Groups/Groups/Sub-Groups/Items | Weight | WPI Numbers for last 6 months | |||||
| Oct-25 | Nov-25 | Dec-25 | Jan-26 | Feb-26* | Mar-26* | ||
| ALL COMMODITIES | 100.00 | 155.1 | 156.2 | 157.2 | 157.6 | 158.2 | 160.8 |
| I. PRIMARY ARTICLES | 22.62 | 188.7 | 192.9 | 194.2 | 194.0 | 192.9 | 197.3 |
| A. Food Articles | 15.26 | 199.8 | 205.0 | 206.4 | 203.1 | 200.2 | 198.5 |
| Cereals | 2.82 | 206.7 | 207.5 | 208.9 | 209.3 | 207.9 | 205.8 |
| Paddy | 1.43 | 202.0 | 203.7 | 205.5 | 204.9 | 204.3 | 203.5 |
| Wheat | 1.03 | 211.3 | 211.4 | 212.1 | 214.5 | 211.4 | 207.6 |
| Pulses | 0.64 | 195.6 | 195.7 | 193.1 | 194.5 | 196.9 | 194.4 |
| Vegetables | 1.87 | 234.6 | 268.1 | 278.1 | 237.6 | 197.1 | 182.0 |
| Potato | 0.28 | 227.0 | 245.1 | 223.2 | 178.0 | 157.0 | 143.9 |
| Onion | 0.16 | 162.3 | 175.0 | 189.1 | 210.8 | 179.4 | 157.8 |
| Fruits | 1.60 | 194.5 | 197.5 | 197.1 | 201.5 | 217.3 | 223.1 |
| Milk | 4.44 | 191.6 | 191.4 | 191.6 | 191.7 | 192.1 | 192.1 |
| Eggs, Meat & Fish | 2.40 | 174.3 | 176.7 | 176.7 | 181.1 | 180.7 | 181.7 |
| B. Non-Food Articles | 4.12 | 165.3 | 169.2 | 172.1 | 180.4 | 181.7 | 181.3 |
| Oil Seeds | 1.12 | 198.2 | 203.3 | 210.1 | 218.7 | 224.3 | 220.2 |
| C. Minerals | 0.83 | 253.3 | 257.5 | 256.2 | 253.1 | 253.1 | 253.4 |
| D. Crude Petroleum & Natural gas | 2.41 | 136.2 | 134.0 | 133.4 | 139.1 | 144.9 | 197.3 |
| Crude Petroleum | 1.95 | 109.0 | 107.6 | 107.5 | 115.4 | 122.8 | 183.1 |
| II. FUEL & POWER | 13.15 | 145.2 | 146.4 | 148.3 | 145.9 | 147.6 | 153.7 |
| LPG | 0.64 | 108.4 | 107.8 | 107.1 | 114.2 | 117.3 | 121.8 |
| Petrol | 1.60 | 146.0 | 146.1 | 146.4 | 143.9 | 144.3 | 155.6 |
| HSD | 3.10 | 161.1 | 161.7 | 161.2 | 158.5 | 160.4 | 170.8 |
| III. MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS | 64.23 | 145.3 | 145.2 | 145.9 | 147.1 | 148.2 | 149.5 |
| Mf/o Food Products | 9.12 | 179.0 | 178.8 | 178.5 | 179.8 | 180.7 | 183.4 |
| Vegetable & Animal Oils and Fats | 2.64 | 186.8 | 186.0 | 186.1 | 188.7 | 190.3 | 194.6 |
| Mf/o Beverages | 0.91 | 135.9 | 135.9 | 135.4 | 135.7 | 135.8 | 135.3 |
| Mf/o Tobacco Products | 0.51 | 181.6 | 181.9 | 183.9 | 183.3 | 191.1 | 191.7 |
| Mf/o Textiles | 4.88 | 138.5 | 138.7 | 139.2 | 140.2 | 141.4 | 143.2 |
| Mf/o Wearing Apparel | 0.81 | 156.4 | 157.2 | 156.7 | 157.3 | 157.6 | 157.3 |
| Mf/o Leather and Related Products | 0.54 | 127.4 | 127.8 | 127.6 | 128.7 | 128.4 | 129.2 |
| Mf/o Wood and Products of Wood and Cork | 0.77 | 151.1 | 150.6 | 150.8 | 151.2 | 151.2 | 151.7 |
| Mf/o Paper and Paper Products | 1.11 | 140.3 | 140.4 | 140.3 | 140.6 | 140.7 | 142.2 |
| Mf/o Chemicals and Chemical Products | 6.47 | 136.8 | 136.7 | 137.2 | 137.5 | 137.9 | 139.9 |
| Mf/o Pharmaceuticals, Medicinal Chemical and Botanical Products | 1.99 | 146.2 | 146.4 | 146.1 | 145.4 | 145.9 | 146.7 |
| Mf/o Rubber and Plastics Products | 2.30 | 128.9 | 128.5 | 127.9 | 128.5 | 129.2 | 131.2 |
| Mf/o other Non-Metallic Mineral Products | 3.20 | 132.6 | 132.4 | 132.5 | 133.3 | 133.7 | 134.1 |
| Cement, Lime and Plaster | 1.64 | 131.3 | 130.5 | 130.3 | 131.8 | 132.4 | 132.4 |
| Mf/o Basic Metals | 9.65 | 137.1 | 136.9 | 137.6 | 141.6 | 143.9 | 145.1 |
| Mild Steel – Semi Finished Steel | 1.27 | 114.4 | 113.4 | 114.8 | 117.6 | 118.0 | 118.7 |
| Mf/o Fabricated Metal Products, Except Machinery and Equipment | 3.15 | 136.7 | 136.3 | 136.1 | 136.7 | 136.3 | 136.2 |
Note: * = Provisional. Mf/o = Manufacture of
Source: PIB
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