India’s retail inflation has accelerated to 4.82% in August 2026 from 4.45% in July, as food prices and other key components of the consumer basket exerted pressure on the economy, according to data released by the government on Monday.
The latest reading depicts that the price pressures are beginning to build after inflation remained relatively subdued through much of the first half of the year. Rural CPI inflation came in at 5.23% in August, compared with 4.31% in urban areas.
A Reuters poll of economists had projected retail inflation at 4.80% for the month, with estimates ranging between 4.40% and 5.05%.
The July reading comes after retail inflation breached the Reserve Bank of India’s medium-term target of 4% in June, when it rose to 4.38% from 3.93% in May. The August inflation also marked the highest reading since India adopted its revised CPI series with a new base year and updated consumption basket earlier this year.
Also read: India's wholesale inflation accelerates to 9.92% in August from 9.78% in July
