**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Commerce & Industry has released the provisional Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for March 2026, which shows an annual inflation rate of 3.88% (Y-o-Y). This positive inflation is primarily driven by price increases in crude petroleum, natural gas, and manufactured products. The next index release for the month of April 2026 is scheduled for May 14, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Overall Inflation Trends**
* **Annual Inflation:** The provisional Y-o-Y inflation rate for March 2026 rose to 3.88%, up from 2.13% in February 2026.
* **Monthly Change:** The WPI increased by 1.64% on a month-over-month (M-o-M) basis in March 2026 compared to February 2026.
* **Historical Revisions:** The final WPI for January 2026 was confirmed at an index level of 157.6 with an inflation rate of 1.68%.
**Major Group Performance (M-o-M)**
* **Primary Articles (Weight 22.62%):** Increased by 2.28%. This was led by a 36.16% surge in crude petroleum and natural gas, though food articles (-0.85%) and non-food articles (-0.22%) saw slight declines.
* **Fuel & Power (Weight 13.15%):** Increased by 4.13%. Mineral oil prices rose by 8.77%, while electricity prices decreased by 5.07%.
* **Manufactured Products (Weight 64.23%):** Increased by 0.88%. Of the 22 NIC two-digit groups, 16 recorded price increases (including basic metals and textiles) and 6 recorded decreases (including machinery and equipment).
**Food Index**
* **Stability:** The WPI Food Index (combining Primary and Manufactured food items) remained stable with a Y-o-Y inflation rate of 1.85%.
* **Index Movement:** The index saw a marginal M-o-M decrease from 192.9 in February to 192.8 in March 2026.
**Data Collection and Reliability**
* **Response Rate:** The March 2026 provisional figures are based on a weighted response rate of 77.8%.
* **Revision Policy:** Provisional figures are subject to revision and are finalized 10 weeks after the reference month.
**Impact Analysis**
**Government and Policy Makers (DPIIT)**
**Impact**
The rising inflation rate (from 2.13% to 3.88%) provides a benchmark for monitoring price stability and economic health.
**Action Required**
DPIIT must collect further data from institutional sources to finalize provisional figures after 10 weeks and prepare the next release for May 14, 2026.
**Manufacturers and Industrialists**
**Impact**
Manufacturers are facing increased costs in 16 out of 22 product categories, specifically in basic metals and chemicals.
**Action Required**
Selected manufacturing units must continue to provide timely price data to the Ministry; businesses may need to adjust pricing or procurement strategies to account for the 0.88% M-o-M increase in manufactured goods.
**Energy and Petroleum Sector**
**Impact**
The sector is experiencing significant volatility, with a massive 36.16% monthly increase in crude petroleum and natural gas and an 8.77% increase in mineral oils.
**Action Required**
Stakeholders in the fuel supply chain must account for these sharp cost increases in their operational budgets and contract pricing.
Key Entities Referenced
All India Wholesale Price Index (WPI): The primary economic indicator used to measure the annual rate of inflation and track price changes across commodity groups like primary articles, fuel, and manufactured products.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry: The central government ministry responsible for the oversight and monthly publication of wholesale price statistics in India.
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT): The department within the Ministry of Commerce & Industry that compiles index numbers using data from institutional sources and selected manufacturing units.
WPI Food Index: A specific sub-index composed of 'Food Articles' from the Primary Articles group and 'Food Products' from the Manufactured Products group used to monitor food-specific inflation.
National Industrial Classification (NIC): The classification framework used to categorize manufactured products into two-digit groups for the purpose of determining price indices.
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 Weight Jan-26 (F) Feb-26 (P) Mar-26 (P)
Commodities/Major (%)
Groups
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 64.23 147.1 2.58 148.2 2.92 149.5 3.39
Products
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 Weight Oct- Nov- Dec- Jan-26 Feb-26 Mar-26
Groups 25 25 25 (F) (P) (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 0.88Food 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:
i. 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.
ii. 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.
iii. 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.
6. 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.i
n.
7. 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, 2026Commodities/Major Weight Index Latest month Inflation Rate of
Groups/Groups/Sub- over Month (YoY) Inflation (YoY)
Mar-
Groups/Items (MoM)
26*
Feb- Feb- 2024- 2025-26 March March
Mar Mar 25 (Apr- 2025
2024-25 2025- (Apr- Mar) 2026*
26* Mar)
ALL COMMODITIES 100.00 160.8 -0.06 1.64 2.27 0.70 2.25 3.88
I. PRIMARY 22.62 197.3 -0.70 2.28 5.18 -1.08 1.26 6.36
ARTICLES
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 & 2.41 197.3 -2.42 36.16 -1.54 -5.15 -7.64 35.98
Natural gas
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 -1.54Petrol 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 64.23 149.5 0.42 0.88 1.74 2.31 3.21 3.39
PRODUCTS
Mf/o Food Products 9.12 183.4 0.78 1.49 7.21 4.16 11.10 1.83
Vegetable & Animal 2.64 194.6 0.79 2.26 16.26 10.94 31.37 1.67
Oils and Fats
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 0.54 129.2 -0.79 0.62 0.91 2.15 1.37 3.03
Related Products
Mf/o Wood and 0.77 151.7 0.13 0.33 1.81 0.91 0.60 1.13
Products of Wood and
Cork
Mf/o Paper and Paper 1.11 142.2 -0.14 1.07 -0.76 0.86 2.17 0.85
Products
Mf/o Chemicals and 6.47 139.9 0.00 1.45 -0.30 0.71 0.96 2.19
Chemical Products
Mf/o Pharmaceuticals, 1.99 146.7 -0.21 0.55 1.01 1.14 0.98 1.31
Medicinal Chemical and
Botanical Products
Mf/o Rubber and 2.30 131.2 0.08 1.55 1.21 0.16 1.33 1.00
Plastics Products
Mf/o other Non-Metallic 3.20 134.1 -0.68 0.30 -2.39 1.32 -0.53 1.28
Mineral Products
Cement, Lime and 1.64 132.4 -1.36 0.00 -5.04 1.20 -2.46 1.07
Plaster
Mf/o Basic Metals 9.65 145.1 1.16 0.83 -0.93 -0.16 0.58 4.01
Mild Steel - Semi 1.27 118.7 0.77 0.59 -1.67 -1.13 1.11 0.34
Finished SteelMf/o Fabricated Metal 3.15 136.2 0.22 -0.07 -1.87 0.53 0.15 -0.15
Products, Except
Machinery and
Equipment
Note: * = Provisional. Mf/o = Manufacture of
Annex-II
WPI Inflation (Base Year: 2011-12=100) for last 6 months
Commodities/Major Weight WPI based inflation (YoY) figures for last 6 months
Groups/Groups/Sub-
Groups/Items
Oct- Nov-25 Dec- Jan- Feb- Mar-
25 25 26 26* 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 2.41 -7.54 -8.66 -5.99 -7.82 -2.56 35.98
gas
Crude Petroleum 1.95 -13.56 -13.92 -10.04 -11.23 -1.29 51.57II. 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 64.23 1.68 1.47 2.03 2.58 2.92 3.39
PRODUCTS
Mf/o Food Products 9.12 1.76 0.73 0.96 1.30 1.12 1.83
Vegetable & Animal Oils and 2.64 4.83 1.53 0.27 0.64 0.21 1.67
Fats
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 0.54 1.35 1.59 1.27 0.94 1.58 3.03
Products
Mf/o Wood and Products of 0.77 1.61 1.41 1.69 1.07 0.93 1.13
Wood and Cork
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 6.47 0.37 0.22 0.51 0.51 0.73 2.19
Products
Mf/o Pharmaceuticals, 1.99 1.88 1.60 1.46 0.28 0.55 1.31
Medicinal Chemical and
Botanical Products
Mf/o Rubber and Plastics 2.30 -0.54 -0.08 -0.85 -0.62 -0.46 1.00
Products
Mf/o other Non-Metallic 3.20 1.69 0.76 0.61 0.83 0.30 1.28
Mineral Products
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 1.27 -3.05 -3.49 -1.71 0.26 0.51 0.34
SteelMf/o Fabricated Metal 3.15 1.26 0.74 0.15 1.03 0.15 -0.15
Products, Except Machinery
and Equipment
Note: * = Provisional. Mf/o = Manufacture of
Annex-III
Wholesale Price Indices (Base Year: 2011-12=100) for last 6 months
Commodities/Major Weight WPI Numbers for last 6 months
Groups/Groups/Sub-
Groups/Items
Oct- Nov-25 Dec- Jan- Feb- Mar-
25 25 26 26* 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 2.41 136.2 134.0 133.4 139.1 144.9 197.3
gas
Crude Petroleum 1.95 109.0 107.6 107.5 115.4 122.8 183.1
II. FUEL & POWER 13.15 145.2 146.4 148.3 145.9 147.6 153.7LPG 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 64.23 145.3 145.2 145.9 147.1 148.2 149.5
PRODUCTS
Mf/o Food Products 9.12 179.0 178.8 178.5 179.8 180.7 183.4
Vegetable & Animal Oils and 2.64 186.8 186.0 186.1 188.7 190.3 194.6
Fats
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 0.54 127.4 127.8 127.6 128.7 128.4 129.2
Products
Mf/o Wood and Products of 0.77 151.1 150.6 150.8 151.2 151.2 151.7
Wood and Cork
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 6.47 136.8 136.7 137.2 137.5 137.9 139.9
Products
Mf/o Pharmaceuticals, 1.99 146.2 146.4 146.1 145.4 145.9 146.7
Medicinal Chemical and
Botanical Products
Mf/o Rubber and Plastics 2.30 128.9 128.5 127.9 128.5 129.2 131.2
Products
Mf/o other Non-Metallic 3.20 132.6 132.4 132.5 133.3 133.7 134.1
Mineral Products
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 1.27 114.4 113.4 114.8 117.6 118.0 118.7
SteelMf/o Fabricated Metal 3.15 136.7 136.3 136.1 136.7 136.3 136.2
Products, Except Machinery
and Equipment
Note: * = Provisional. Mf/o = Manufacture of
***
Abhishek Dayal/Anushka Pandey
(Release ID: 2252109) Visitor Counter : 1117
Read this release in: Bengali , Urdu , ही