Rising energy prices push WPI Inflation to 8.3% in April

India’s wholesale price inflation rose sharply to 8.3 per cent in April 2026 on an annual basis, mainly driven by a steep rise in fuel, crude oil, mineral oils and manufactured product prices, according to data released by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on Thursday.The Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation had stood at 3.88 per cent in March 2026 and 2.26 per cent in February 2026, indicating a significant jump in wholesale price pressures during April.
According to the official release, the surge in inflation was led primarily by the fuel and power category, where inflation climbed sharply to 24.71 per cent in April from 1.05 per cent in March.The overall WPI index rose to 167 in April from 160.8 in March, registering a month-on-month increase of 3.86 per cent.The primary articles category recorded inflation of 9.17 per cent during the month, while inflation in manufactured products stood at 4.62 per cent.Within the fuel and power segment, mineral oil prices recorded a steep increase, while electricity prices declined marginally on a monthly basis.
Inflation in crude petroleum and natural gas stood at 67.18 per cent in April, with crude petroleum prices alone registering an annual rise of 88.06 per cent, reflecting the impact of elevated global energy prices.Among food items, the WPI Food Index increased to 2.31 per cent in April from 1.85 per cent in March. Prices of vegetables, fruits, eggs, meat and fish witnessed increases, while pulses and onions continued to remain in negative inflation territory.
The report further showed that inflation in manufactured products rose to 4.62 per cent, driven by higher prices of basic metals, chemicals and chemical products, textiles, food products, and machinery and equipment.DPIIT said the provisional WPI figures for April were compiled at a weighted response rate of 96.7 per cent, while the final inflation figure for February was based on a response rate of 97.3 per cent.The next set of WPI inflation data for May 2026 is scheduled to be released on June 15, 2026.

(Business Correspondent)