New Delhi: India’s wholesale inflation eased marginally in September, driven by a decline in prices of primary articles and food items, even as manufactured products recorded a slight uptick. The wholesale price index (WPI) for all commodities moderated to 154.4 in July 2025 (final) with an inflation rate of (-) 0.58%, while provisional data for the month showed continued softening in overall price pressures.
The primary articles group (weight: 22.62%) declined 1.05% month-on-month, led by lower prices of food articles (-1.38%) and non-food articles (-1.06%). In contrast, minerals (+1.36%) and crude petroleum & natural gas (+0.64%) registered price increases.
The fuel & power group (weight: 13.15%) slipped 0.14%, reflecting lower prices of mineral oils (-0.54%) and coal (-0.15%), partly offset by a 1.20% rise in electricity prices.
Meanwhile, manufactured products (weight: 64.23%) — which account for nearly two-thirds of the WPI basket — edged up 0.21%, marking a modest recovery. Price gains were seen in food products, electrical equipment, textiles, and non-metallic mineral products, while declines were reported in rubber & plastics, motor vehicles, pharmaceuticals, and leather goods.
The WPI food index fell from 193.5 in August to 192.0 in September, with food inflation turning negative at (-) 1.99%, down from 0.21% in the previous month, indicating a broad easing in food price pressures.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry noted that the WPI for September was compiled at a weighted response rate of 80.2%, while July’s final data had a response rate of 94.7%.
Overall, the data suggests that cooling food and primary commodity prices continue to ease wholesale inflationary pressures, even as manufacturing costs show early signs of stabilization — a trend that could support the Reserve Bank of India’s accommodative stance in the coming months.