Parliament Question: Hike in prices of every day goods owing to weakening Rupee

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1998 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2026/ Phalguna 19, 1947 (Saka) Hike in prices of every day goods owing to weakening Rupee 1998. Shri PRAMOD TIWARI: Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state: (a) whether prices of everyday items which remained stable or decreased for a few months after the GST rate cut have again started rising; (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; (c) whether depreciation of the Rupee against the Dollar and the rising global raw material prices have put increased pressure on input costs; and (d) if so, the steps proposed to be taken by Government to ensure that the increased input costs are not passed on to the consumers? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY) (a) and (b): In September 2025, the Government has rationalized Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates on many goods and services and reduced GST rates from 28 per cent to 18 per cent, 18 per cent to 12 or 5 per cent, and from 12 per cent to 5 per cent/Nil. In the post-GST rate cut period, since October 2025 till January 2026, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation had moderated to 1.1% vis-à-vis 1.7% during July to September 2025. The prices of most essential commodities, which are closely monitored by the Department of Consumer Affairs, have continued to remain stable or exhibited a decreasing trend. The details are given in Annexure. (c) and (d): While a depreciation in rupee and rise in the prices of raw materials in the global market can put an upward pressure on input costs in certain sectors, the final effect depends upon a host of factors including the extent of the pass-through of international commodity prices to the domestic market, availability of substitute input goods, measures to contain inflationary pressures and volatility in the exchange rate movements. With a view to reducing input costs, boosting domestic manufacturing, promoting export competitiveness and supporting strategic sectors, in the Union Budget 2026-27, the Government announced rationalisation of the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on several goods. ****Annexure Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) & (b) of Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1998 dated 10.03.2026. All India Monthly Average Retail Prices of Essential Commodities Monthly Average Retail Prices Percentage variation Commodities Aug- Sep- Oct- Nov- Dec- Sep- Oct- Nov- Dec- Jan- Mar- Jan-26 Feb-26 Mar-26 Feb-26 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 26 26 Rice 42.67 42.86 42.98 42.91 42.98 42.84 42.98 41.92 0.45 0.28 -0.16 0.16 -0.33 0.33 -2.47 Wheat 34.52 34.78 34.92 34.92 34.93 34.9 35.11 33.76 0.75 0.40 0.00 0.03 -0.09 0.60 -3.85 Atta (Wheat) 39.89 40.16 40.3 40.23 40.28 40.28 40.59 39.4 0.68 0.35 -0.17 0.12 0.00 0.77 -2.93 Gram Dal 87.02 87 86.78 86.58 86.28 85.68 85.76 83.92 -0.02 -0.25 -0.23 -0.35 -0.70 0.09 -2.15 Tur/Arhar Dal 117.66 115.76 114.88 115.18 115.38 115.75 120.24 119.29 -1.61 -0.76 0.26 0.17 0.32 3.88 -0.79 Urad Dal 114.37 114.03 113.82 113.63 113.59 113.95 115.98 116.04 -0.30 -0.18 -0.17 -0.04 0.32 1.78 0.05 Moong Dal 110.36 110.33 110.39 110.23 110.22 110.19 110.63 109.04 -0.03 0.05 -0.14 -0.01 -0.03 0.40 -1.44 Masoor Dal 89 89.24 89.29 89.26 89.48 89.28 89.16 87.71 0.27 0.06 -0.03 0.25 -0.22 -0.13 -1.63 Groundnut Oil 191.99 191.63 191.62 191.38 192 193.08 195.82 197.99 -0.19 -0.01 -0.13 0.32 0.56 1.42 1.11 (Packed) Mustard Oil 186.52 188.25 188.84 188.81 188.83 188.67 189.31 189.24 0.93 0.31 -0.02 0.01 -0.08 0.34 -0.04 (Packed) Vanaspati 156.28 156.41 156.44 156.16 156.14 156.35 156.64 154.61 0.08 0.02 -0.18 -0.01 0.13 0.19 -1.30 (Packed) Soya Oil 149.55 149.76 149.42 149.12 149.08 149.44 151.26 150.81 0.14 -0.23 -0.20 -0.03 0.24 1.22 -0.30 (Packed) Sunflower Oil 164.26 165.13 165.4 166.07 166.68 168.52 171.76 172.72 0.53 0.16 0.41 0.37 1.10 1.92 0.56 (Packed) Palm Oil 131.37 132.25 132.55 132.55 132.54 132.82 134.74 135.16 0.67 0.23 0.00 -0.01 0.21 1.45 0.31 (Packed) Potato 25.58 25.16 25.41 26.6 25.62 23.52 22.14 19.77 -1.64 0.99 4.68 -3.68 -8.20 -5.87 -10.70 Onion 28.24 27.5 26.54 26.61 27.6 28.7 27.48 25.07 -2.62 -3.49 0.26 3.72 3.99 -4.25 -8.77 Tomato 52.75 42.03 38.46 44.02 49.6 46.1 32.65 26.67 -20.32 -8.49 14.46 12.68 -7.06 -29.18 -18.32 Sugar 46.2 46.42 46.53 46.51 46.51 46.35 46.35 45.85 0.48 0.24 -0.04 0.00 -0.34 0.00 -1.08 Gur 56.35 56.8 57.35 57.21 57.02 56.93 56.91 55.18 0.80 0.97 -0.24 -0.33 -0.16 -0.04 -3.04 Milk 59.09 59.24 59.23 59.24 59.15 59.24 59.16 58.46 0.25 -0.02 0.02 -0.15 0.15 -0.14 -1.18 Tea Loose 271.3 271.35 270.9 270.65 270.74 269.84 271.26 259.47 0.02 -0.17 -0.09 0.03 -0.33 0.53 -4.35 Salt Pack 21.35 21.47 21.43 21.38 21.52 21.52 21.58 21.64 0.56 -0.19 -0.23 0.65 0.00 0.28 0.28 (Iodised) Bajra (whole) 37.79 37.75 37.67 37.71 37.86 37.83 37.91 37.21 -0.11 -0.21 0.11 0.40 -0.08 0.21 -1.85 Jowar (whole) 43.13 43.09 42.98 43.03 43.27 43.46 43.84 43.46 -0.09 -0.26 0.12 0.56 0.44 0.87 -0.87 Maida (wheat) 41.43 41.64 41.79 41.67 41.74 41.7 41.82 40.9 0.51 0.36 -0.29 0.17 -0.10 0.29 -2.20 Ragi (whole) 53.62 53.49 53.62 53.76 53.89 54.32 54.44 55.26 -0.24 0.24 0.26 0.24 0.80 0.22 1.51 Suji (whole) 46.45 46.63 46.86 46.62 46.69 46.63 46.64 44.43 0.39 0.49 -0.51 0.15 -0.13 0.02 -4.74Monthly Average Retail Prices Percentage variation Commodities Aug- Sep- Oct- Nov- Dec- Sep- Oct- Nov- Dec- Jan- Mar- Jan-26 Feb-26 Mar-26 Feb-26 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 26 26 Besan 96.75 96.58 96.32 96.28 96.25 95.84 95.89 94.41 -0.18 -0.27 -0.04 -0.03 -0.43 0.05 -1.54 Desi Ghee 664.09 667.18 665.21 670.7 674.98 676.5 679.06 678.79 0.47 -0.30 0.83 0.64 0.23 0.38 -0.04 Butter 59.17 59.32 59.05 58.96 59.06 58.98 58.95 58.64 0.25 -0.46 -0.15 0.17 -0.14 -0.05 -0.53 (Pasteurised) Eggs 76.72 77.37 77.77 79.9 83.96 84.86 82.42 80.87 0.85 0.52 2.74 5.08 1.07 -2.88 -1.88 Brinjal 42.3 42.32 43.44 45.9 44.68 41.96 39.93 37.1 0.05 2.65 5.66 -2.66 -6.09 -4.84 -7.09 Black Pepper 87.34 87.31 87.16 87.14 87.04 86.96 87.07 86.5 -0.03 -0.17 -0.02 -0.11 -0.09 0.13 -0.65 (whole) Coriander 37.06 37.12 37.39 37.25 37.36 37.6 37.66 36.42 0.16 0.73 -0.37 0.30 0.64 0.16 -3.29 (whole) Cummin Seed 42.05 41.76 41.71 41.36 41.09 40.99 40.9 39.34 -0.69 -0.12 -0.84 -0.65 -0.24 -0.22 -3.81 (whole) Red Chillies 27.8 27.56 27.51 27.54 27.61 27.7 27.98 27.74 -0.86 -0.18 0.11 0.25 0.33 1.01 -0.86 (whole) Turmeric 16.19 16.2 16.21 16.2 16.19 16.21 16.26 15.78 0.06 0.06 -0.06 -0.06 0.12 0.31 -2.95 (powder) Banana 49.8 49.23 48.58 47.64 47.24 47.02 47.34 46.07 -1.14 -1.32 -1.93 -0.84 -0.47 0.68 -2.68 Source: Department of Consumer Affairs