PrepMaticCurrent affairs · September 2026
Wholesale price inflation rises to 9.92% in August 2026
Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation was 9.92% year on year in August 2026, compared with 9.78% in July, according to provisional estimates released on 14 September 2026 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The index uses the base year 2022-23 and stood at 110.8 for all commodities, against 110.0 in July.
Major groups
| Group | August 2026 inflation | July 2026 inflation | August 2026 index |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary articles | 7.76% | 8.52% | 118.1 |
| Fuel and power | 22.93% | 20.05% | 108.3 |
| Manufactured products | 8.37% | 8.29% | 108.8 |
Fuel and power was the fastest-rising group. The WPI food index, which has a weight of 24.99%, showed inflation of 7.05% in August against 6.65% in July.
The main drivers of WPI inflation in August 2026 were mineral oils (petroleum products), food articles, manufacture of food products, manufacture of basic metals, non-food articles and manufacture of chemicals and chemical products. The final index for June 2026 was revised from 110.2 to 110.3, taking June's inflation from 9.87% to 9.97%.
Provisional WPI for a month is released on the 14th of the following month, so the September 2026 numbers are due in mid-October.
Why it matters for exams
WPI versus CPI is a common comparison in banking awareness (IBPS, SBI, RBI Grade B) and economy questions in TNPSC general studies. Remember that WPI tracks wholesale prices of goods only, while CPI tracks retail prices paid by consumers; compare with the CPI release for August 2026. Background is in the Indian economy guide.
Practice questions
Question 1
What is the base year of the Wholesale Price Index used in the August 2026 release?
- A. 2011-12
- B. 2022-23
- C. 2024
- D. 2004-05
Question 2
Which major WPI group recorded the highest inflation in August 2026?
- A. Primary articles
- B. Manufactured products
- C. Fuel and power
- D. Food index
Answers
- B. The WPI series has base year 2022-23.
- C. Fuel and power inflation was 22.93%, higher than primary articles (7.76%) and manufactured products (8.37%).
Source
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