Retail inflation rises to 4.82% in August 2026 on the new CPI series (base 2024=100)
On 14 September 2026, the National Statistics Office (NSO) under MoSPI released the Consumer Price Index for August 2026, showing year-on-year retail inflation of 4.82% (provisional), up from 4.45% in July.
Summary
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for August 2026, compiled on the new base year 2024=100, put all-India retail inflation at 4.82%, against a final 4.45% in July 2026. Rural inflation was 5.23% and urban inflation 4.31%. Food inflation measured by the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) rose to 5.95% from 5.52%, with rural food inflation at 6.13% and urban at 5.64%. Tomato (-31.09%) and potato (-13.14%) were among the items with the lowest inflation. Prices are collected by the Field Operations Division of the NSO, MoSPI, which reported a 100% market response rate in August.
Key facts
- Released
- 14 Sep 2026 by NSO, MoSPI
- Headline CPI
- 4.82% (Aug, provisional) vs 4.45% (Jul, final)
- Rural / Urban
- 5.23% / 4.31%
- Food (CFPI)
- 5.95% vs 5.52% in July
- Base year
- 2024=100
- Lowest inflation
- Tomato -31.09%, potato -13.14%
Practice MCQs 4 questions
What was India's year-on-year retail inflation (CPI, provisional) for August 2026?
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Correct answer: A — 4.82%
All-India CPI inflation for August 2026 was 4.82% (provisional), up from 4.45% in July.
What is the base year of the Consumer Price Index series used for the August 2026 inflation data?
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Correct answer: B — 2024=100
The CPI is now compiled on base year 2024=100.
What was food inflation measured by the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) in August 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 5.95%
CFPI inflation was 5.95% in August 2026 (rural 6.13%, urban 5.64%), against 5.52% in July.
Consider the following about the CPI release for August 2026: 1. Urban inflation was higher than rural inflation. 2. The CPI for August 2026 is compiled on base year 2012=100. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Neither is correct. Rural inflation (5.23%) was higher than urban (4.31%), and the CPI released by the NSO, MoSPI, is now compiled on base year 2024=100.