First CPI release on base 2024=100 puts January 2026 retail inflation at 2.75%
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released the first Consumer Price Index on the new base 2024=100 on 12 February 2026, showing retail inflation of 2.75% for January 2026.
Summary
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the first Consumer Price Index (CPI) on the new base 2024=100 on 12 February 2026, showing all-India year-on-year retail inflation of 2.75% (provisional) for January 2026, with 2.73% in rural and 2.77% in urban areas. Food inflation, measured by the Consumer Food Price Index, was 2.13%, and housing inflation was 2.05%. The new series uses 12 divisions in place of the earlier 6 groups, following the Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose (COICOP) 2018, and releases item-level indices at all-India and state levels. New items include rural housing, online streaming services, value-added dairy products, pen drives and exercise equipment, while VCR/DVD players, radio, tape recorders and second-hand clothing were dropped.
Key facts
- Date
- 12 February 2026
- January 2026 CPI inflation
- 2.75% (rural 2.73%, urban 2.77%)
- Food inflation (CFPI)
- 2.13%
- Housing inflation
- 2.05%
- Structure
- 12 divisions in place of 6 groups (COICOP 2018)
- Added / dropped
- Streaming services, rural housing added; radio, VCR, tape recorder dropped
Practice MCQs 4 questions
What was India's all-India CPI inflation for January 2026 in the first release on base 2024=100?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 2.75%
Year-on-year CPI inflation for January 2026 was 2.75% (provisional) on the new base.
In the first CPI release on base 2024=100, food inflation (CFPI) for January 2026 was:
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 2.13%
All-India CFPI inflation was 2.13%; rural 1.96% and urban 2.44%.
How many divisions does the new CPI (2024=100) use, in line with COICOP 2018, in place of the earlier 6 groups?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 12
The new series has 12 divisions in place of 6 groups, following COICOP 2018.
Consider the following statements about the item basket of the new CPI (2024=100): 1. Online media/streaming services and rural housing have been added. 2. Radio and tape recorders have been removed. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. Streaming services, rural housing, pen drives and exercise equipment were added; radio, tape recorders, VCR/DVD players and second-hand clothing were removed.