Retail inflation rate based on All India Consumer Price Index (CPI) with base year 2024 rose marginally to 3.48% (Provisional) in the month of April 2026 as compared to 3.40% (Final) in the preceding month, mainly due to an uptick in food prices. This represents the third consecutive month of an increase in inflation. The CPI based inflation is moving closer to the Reserve Bank of India’s medium-term target of 4% with a 2% margin either way, making the board target inflation range between 2-6%. Meanwhile, the index value for CPI for rural, urban and combined stood at 105.28, 104.92 and 105.12, respectively, for the month of April 2026.
Food inflation, measured by the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI), rose to 4.20% (Provisional) for April 2026 as compared to 3.87% (Final) in March 2026. Corresponding inflation rates for rural and urban stood at 4.26% and 4.10%, respectively in April 2026, as compared to 3.95% and 3.71%, respectively in March 2026. Index value for CFPI for rural, urban and combined stood at 104.17, 104.78 and 104.39, respectively, for April 2026. Besides, Housing inflation rate for the month of April 2026 stood at 2.15% (Provisional) and the corresponding inflation rates for rural and urban are 2.65% and 1.96%, respectively.
Top five key items with low inflation at All India combined level in April 2026 were Potato at (-)23.69% as against (-)19.03% in March 2026, Onion at (-)17.67% in April 2026 as against (-)27.78% in March 2026, Motor car and jeep at (-)7.12% in April 2026 as against (-)6.91% in March 2026, Peas, chickpeas at (-)6.75% in April 2026 as against (-)7.88% in March 2026, and Air conditioner at (-)5.06% in April 2026 as against (-)5.81% in March 2026.
Top five key items with high inflation at All India combined level in April 2026 were Silver Jewellery at 144.34% as against 148.42% in March 2026, Coconut: copra at 44.55% in April 2026 as against 45.54% in March 2026, Gold/Diamond/Platinum Jewellery at 40.72% in April 2026 as against 45.88% in March 2026, Tomato at 35.28% in April 2026 as against 36.00% in March 2026, and Cauliflower at 25.58% in April 2026 as against 34.16% in March 2026.
Moreover, inflation in Food and beverages increased to 4.01% in April 2026 from 3.71% in March 2026, inflation in Paan, tobacco and intoxicants increased to 4.76% in April 2026 from 4.23% in March 2026, inflation in Clothing and footwear increased to 2.80% in April 2026 from 2.75% in March 2026. However, inflation in Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels decreased to 1.71% in April 2026 from 1.97% in March 2026.
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