Retail inflation rises to 3.21% in February amid higher food prices

12 Mar 2026 Evaluate

The retail inflation based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose to 3.21% (Provisional) in the month of February 2026 driven largely by food prices. The inflation data is based on the new CPI series with base year 2024. The CPI-based inflation for the month of January 2026 revised down to 2.74% from provisional estimate of 2.75%. Besides, rural inflation enlarged to 3.37% in February from 2.73% in January, while urban inflation increased to 3.02% in February from 2.75% in January. However, the inflation remained below the Reserve Bank of India’s 4% medium-term target -- set within a tolerance band of ±2 percentage points (2%-6%). Meanwhile, the index value for CPI for rural, urban and combined stood at 104.74, 104.37 and 104.57, respectively, for the month of February 2026.

Food inflation, measured by the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI), increased to 3.47% (Provisional) for February 2026 as compared to 2.13% in January 2026. Corresponding inflation rates for rural and urban stood at 3.46% and 3.48%, respectively in February 2026, as compared to 1.96% and 2.44%, respectively in January 2026. Index value for CFPI for rural, urban and combined stood at 103.79, 104.04 and 103.88, respectively, for February 2026. Besides, Housing inflation rate for February, 2026 stood at 2.12% (Provisional) and the corresponding inflation rates for rural and urban are 2.43% and 2.00%, respectively.

Top five items with low inflation at All India combined level in February 2026 were Garlic at (-)31.09% as against (-)53.05% in January 2026, Onion at (-)28.20% in February 2026 against (-)29.27% in January 2026, Potato at (-)18.46% in February 2026 against (-)28.98% in January 2026, Arhar, Tur at (-)16.00% in February 2026 against (-)24.90% in January 2026, and Litchi at (-)11.52% in February 2026 against (-)12.67% in January 2026. 

Top five items with high inflation at All India combined level in February 2026 were Silver Jewellery at 160.84% as against 159.67% in January 2026, Gold/Diamond/Platinum Jewellery at 48.16% in February 2026 against 46.80% in January 2026, Coconut: copra at 46.16% in February 2026 against 47.17% in January 2026, Tomato at 45.29% in February 2026 against 64.58% in January 2026, Cauliflower at 43.77% in February 2026 against 37.83% in January 2026.

Real time price data are collected from selected 1407 urban Markets (including online markets) and 1465 villages covering all States/UTs through personal visits by field staff of Field Operations Division of NSO, MoSPI on a weekly roster. During the month of February, 2026, prices were collected from 100% rural and urban markets while the market-wise prices reported therein were 99.89% for rural markets and 99.78% for urban markets.

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