India’s WPI Inflation Climbs to 1.81% in January

India’s wholesale price inflation rose to 1.81 per cent in January 2026, according to provisional figures released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The latest data indicates a pick-up in wholesale prices on an annual basis, signalling strengthening price pressures at the producer level.
The Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation rate increased from 0.83 per cent in December to 1.81 per cent in January. The index number for all commodities climbed to 157.8 in January from 157.0 in the previous month, reflecting a steady rise in overall wholesale price levels.
The acceleration in inflation was largely driven by higher prices in primary articles and manufactured products. Primary articles recorded an annual inflation rate of 2.21 per cent during the month, mainly due to rising prices of food items and other raw materials.
Manufactured products, which have the highest weight in the WPI basket, registered an inflation rate of 2.86 per cent in January. The increase in prices of manufactured and industrial goods contributed significantly to the overall rise in wholesale inflation, underlining firm trends in production costs.
In contrast, fuel and power continued to remain in deflation, with prices contracting by 4.01 per cent compared to the same period last year. The continued softness in this segment helped moderate the broader inflationary trend.
The food index, comprising food articles and food products, recorded an annual inflation rate of 1.41 per cent, pointing to moderate year-on-year increases in food prices.
On a month-on-month basis, the WPI rose 0.51 per cent in January compared to December. The sequential increase was driven by select manufactured goods, although some categories witnessed price declines.
Overall, the January data reflects strengthening wholesale price pressures, led primarily by manufactured goods and primary articles, while fuel prices remained subdued.