Exam Points
- CPI inflation for August 2026 was 4.82%.
- Rural CPI inflation was 5.23% and urban CPI inflation was 4.31%.
- Consumer Food Price Index inflation was 5.95%.
- WPI inflation for August 2026 was 9.92%.
- CPI currently uses base year 2024.
- WPI currently uses base year 2022-23.
- RBI’s inflation-targeting framework is based on CPI inflation.
News Item
India’s retail inflation based on the Consumer Price Index rose to 4.82% in August 2026 from 4.45% in July, while Consumer Food Price Index inflation stood at 5.95%. Wholesale Price Index inflation also rose to 9.92% from 9.78% in July.
Background
CPI measures changes in retail prices faced by consumers and is compiled by the National Statistical Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The current CPI series uses 2024 as its base year.
WPI tracks price changes mainly at the wholesale or producer level for goods and commodities. It is released by the Office of the Economic Adviser under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The current WPI series uses 2022-23 as its base year.
The Reserve Bank of India uses CPI inflation as the headline measure for its inflation-targeting framework.
Prelims Facts
- CPI inflation for August 2026 was 4.82%.
- Rural CPI inflation was 5.23% and urban CPI inflation was 4.31%.
- Consumer Food Price Index inflation was 5.95%.
- WPI inflation for August 2026 was 9.92%.
- CPI currently uses base year 2024.
- WPI currently uses base year 2022-23.
- RBI’s inflation-targeting framework is based on CPI inflation.
Mains Focus & Analysis
- The simultaneous rise in retail and wholesale inflation points to persistent price pressures. Policymakers must balance inflation control with growth while watching food prices, fuel costs and imported commodity inflation.
GS Mapping
GS3: Economy
Quick Check · 1 question
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. CPI inflation is the headline measure used by the RBI under the inflation-targeting framework. Statement 2 is incorrect because India’s WPI covers goods and does not include services.
परीक्षा बिंदु (Exam Points)
- अगस्त 2026 में CPI inflation 4.82% रही।
- Rural CPI inflation 5.23% और urban CPI inflation 4.31% रही।
- Consumer Food Price Index inflation 5.95% रही।
- अगस्त 2026 में WPI inflation 9.92% रही।
- CPI का वर्तमान base year 2024 है।
- WPI का वर्तमान base year 2022-23 है।
- RBI का inflation-targeting framework CPI inflation पर आधारित है।
समाचार
भारत में Consumer Price Index आधारित retail inflation अगस्त 2026 में बढ़कर 4.82% हो गई, जो जुलाई में 4.45% थी। Consumer Food Price Index inflation 5.95% रही। Wholesale Price Index inflation भी जुलाई के 9.78% से बढ़कर 9.92% हो गई।
पृष्ठभूमि
CPI consumers द्वारा चुकाई जाने वाली retail prices में बदलाव को मापता है और इसे Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation के अंतर्गत National Statistical Office तैयार करता है। वर्तमान CPI series का base year 2024 है।
WPI मुख्यतः goods और commodities की wholesale या producer-level prices में बदलाव को मापता है। इसे Ministry of Commerce and Industry के Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade के अंतर्गत Office of the Economic Adviser जारी करता है। वर्तमान WPI series का base year 2022-23 है।
Reserve Bank of India inflation-targeting framework में CPI inflation को headline measure के रूप में उपयोग करता है।
प्रारंभिक परीक्षा तथ्य
- अगस्त 2026 में CPI inflation 4.82% रही।
- Rural CPI inflation 5.23% और urban CPI inflation 4.31% रही।
- Consumer Food Price Index inflation 5.95% रही।
- अगस्त 2026 में WPI inflation 9.92% रही।
- CPI का वर्तमान base year 2024 है।
- WPI का वर्तमान base year 2022-23 है।
- RBI का inflation-targeting framework CPI inflation पर आधारित है।
मुख्य परीक्षा दृष्टिकोण (विश्लेषण)
- Retail और wholesale inflation में एक साथ वृद्धि persistent price pressures की ओर संकेत करती है। Policymakers को growth और inflation control के बीच संतुलन रखते हुए food prices, fuel costs और imported commodity inflation पर नजर रखनी होगी।
जीएस मैपिंग
GS3: अर्थव्यवस्था
त्वरित अभ्यास · 1 प्रश्न
व्याख्या: कथन 1 सही है। RBI inflation-targeting framework में CPI inflation का उपयोग करता है। कथन 2 गलत है क्योंकि भारत का WPI goods को cover करता है, services को नहीं।