India’s wholesale price inflation rose to 0.83% year-on-year in December, government data showed on Wednesday, as higher costs for manufactured goods, minerals and machinery offset softer prices for crude petroleum and natural gas.
The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) increased 0.71% month-on-month in December, accelerating from a 0.52% rise in November, data released by the commerce ministry showed.
The uptick in annual inflation was driven mainly by higher prices of manufactured products, including other manufacturing, machinery and equipment, food products and textiles, as well as minerals, the statement said.
Primary articles, which carry a weight of 22.62% in the index, rose 1.09% month-on-month, led by gains in non-food articles, minerals and food articles, while prices of crude petroleum and natural gas fell 0.45%.
Fuel and power prices climbed 1.23% from November, boosted by a sharp 4.46% increase in electricity prices, along with gains in coal and mineral oils.
Prices of manufactured products, which account for nearly two-thirds of the index, rose 0.41% in December.
Thirteen of the 22 manufacturing groups recorded price increases, including basic metals, chemicals, textiles and other non-metallic mineral products. Prices fell in categories such as rubber and plastics, food products, electronics, paper and beverages.
The WPI food index edged up to 196.0 in December from 195.0 in November, with annual food inflation improving to 0.0% from -2.6% a month earlier.
Data for October were revised, with the final WPI for all commodities placed at 155.1 and annual inflation at -1.02%, the government said.
Retail inflation
The retail inflation stood at 1.33% in December 2025, remaining below the RBI’s lower tolerance limit for the fourth consecutive month, according to government data released earlier this week.
Food inflation remained negative for a seventh consecutive month even as price pressures eased slightly.