After two consecutive months of contraction, India’s wholesale inflation returned to positive territory in August, with the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) rising to 0.52%. The uptick marks a reversal from July, when WPI recorded a two-year low of -0.58%, and June, which saw a 20-month low of -0.13%.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, which releases WPI data, attributed the rise primarily to price increases in food products, other manufacturing goods, non-food articles, non-metallic mineral products, and transport equipment.
Unlike the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks the prices of goods and services purchased by consumers, WPI measures changes in factory gate prices before goods reach retail markets. The index categorizes commodities into three groups: primary articles (food and non-food), fuel and power, and manufactured products, using 2011-12 as the base year.
The positive movement in wholesale prices signals an emerging trend of inflationary pressures at the production level. Analysts suggest that monitoring these trends is crucial, as WPI often provides early indications of price changes that may eventually influence consumer inflation.
As India’s economy continues to navigate fluctuating price trends, the August WPI reading underscores the delicate balance between supply-side costs and broader economic stability.