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India's Retail Inflation Firms up to 3.21% in February as Food & Beverage, Clothing Prices Rise
Retail inflation in India rose to 3.21% in February 2026, driven by increased food, tobacco, and precious metals prices amid fuel supply risks, official data showed.
- On Thursday, March 12, 2026, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released CPI data showing retail inflation rose to 3.21% in February from 2.74% in January, marking the fourth straight monthly increase.
- Food and energy shocks drove the increase, with food and beverages accounting for 44 basis points of the rise and inflation at 3.35% in February, while silver and gold prices kept personal care inflation above 19%.
- Category-Level moves included paan, tobacco and intoxicants at 3.49% in rural areas and 3.02% in urban areas, with transport prices declining by 0.05%.
- Many hotels and restaurants are already feeling the strain as commercial LPG supply diverts to households, which face higher cooking-fuel prices but no shortage; the early-March 2026 LPG price hike may raise headline CPI projection for March to around 3.3–3.5%.
- Nomura cautioned that elevated oil prices could curb the Reserve Bank of India's dovish stance, which forecast 2.1% inflation at its Feb. 5 monetary policy meeting, while markets watch Strait of Hormuz risks.
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Retail inflation rises to 3.21% in February from 2.74% in preceding month
Retail inflation in the country moved up to 3.21 per cent in February compared to 2.74 per cent in the preceding month, according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) released on Thursday. The inflation data is based on the new CPI series with a base year of 2024. Food inflation in February rose sequentially to 3.47 per cent from 2.13 per cent in January, showed the data released by the National Statistics Office (NSO). The major items that witness…
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Total News Sources15
Leaning Left1Leaning Right3Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Center
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources are Center
56% Center
11%
C 56%
R 33%
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