CPI inflation rises to 10-month high of 3.2% in February 2026

CPI inflation in India reaches 3.2% in February 2026, with economists predicting further increases due to global supply disruptions.

Retail inflation in India quickened to a 10-month high of 3.2% in February 2026, driven up by inflation in the food and tobacco categories, the latest data shows. 

The Consumer Price Index data released on Thursday (March 12, 2026) by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation is the second edition of the new series of the Index, and so category-wise historical data is not yet available.

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However, the new series allows for a calculation of the headline inflation numbers from February 2021 onwards. The data shows CPI inflation was last higher in April 2025, when it was 3.3%.

Economists, however, warn that the ongoing disruption in fuel supplies due to the conflict in West Asia would likely push up inflation in March in the electricity, gas & other fuels, and restaurant & accommodation categories of the CPI.

“As expected, the uptick was almost entirely led by the food and beverages (F&B) segment, which accounted for as much as 44 basis points of the 47 basis points rise in the headline print between these months [January and February],” Aditi Nayar, Chief Economist at ICRA said.