What is India's CPI inflation rate?

History

The combined rate covers rural and urban India together on the new base-2024 index. Rural and urban rates are published separately. All three are provisional until the next month's release.

The figures side by side

How we got this number

1. Take the 'CPI (General)' inflation rate for the 'Combined' (rural plus urban) sector from MoSPI's press release for September 2026: 5.54% (provisional).
2. Read the index level from the same table: 109.49 for September 2026, against 108.74 for August 2026 (final).
3. Put it next to earlier months from MoSPI's monthly releases: 3.93% in May, 4.38% in June, 4.45% in July and 4.83% in August 2026 (each as finalised in the following month's release).

What this number does not tell you

• MoSPI marks each month's figure provisional and finalises it a month later. August 2026 was first published as 4.82% and finalised at 4.83%.
• The rate is the change from the same month a year earlier, not from the previous month.
• MoSPI now publishes CPI on a new base year (2024), so index levels are not comparable with those of the older base-year series.

Sources

1. MoSPI, Press Release of CPI on base 2024=100 for September 2026, Dated 12th October, 2026 — columns: August 2026 rural, urban, combined; September 2026 rural, urban, combinedYear-on-year inflation rate based on All India Consumer Price Index (CPI) with base year 2024 for the month of September, 2026 over September, 2025 is 5.54%(Provisional). Corresponding inflation rates for rural and urban are 6.08% and 4.88%, respectively. August, 2026 (Final) September, 2026 (Provisional) Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban Combined Inflation (%) CPI (General) 5.24 4.31 4.83 6.08 4.88 5.54 CFPI 6.17 5.64 5.97 8.06 7.18 7.74 Index CPI (General) 109.28 108.07 108.74 110.11 108.71 109.49
2. MoSPI, Press Release of CPI for September 2026 (food inflation), Dated 12th October, 2026Retail inflation based on Consumer Price Index in September, 2026 is 5.54% Year on year food inflation, based on Consumer Food Price Index, in September, 2026 is 7.74%
3. MoSPI, Press Release of CPI for August 2026, Dated 14th September, 2026Year-on-year inflation rate based on All India Consumer Price Index (CPI) with base year 2024 for the month of August, 2026 over August, 2025 is 4.82%(Provisional). July, 2026 (Final) August, 2026 (Provisional) Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban Combined Inflation (%) CPI (General) 4.84 3.96 4.45 5.23 4.31 4.82
4. MoSPI, Press Release of CPI for July 2026, Dated 12th August, 2026July, 2026 (Provisional) June, 2026 (Final) Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban Combined Inflation (%) CPI (General) 4.84 3.96 4.45 4.74 3.93 4.38
5. MoSPI, Press Release of CPI for June 2026, Dated 13th July, 2026June, 2026 (Provisional) May, 2026 (Final) Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban Combined Inflation (%) CPI (General) 4.74 3.92 4.38 4.25 3.53 3.93

Questions people ask

What is India's inflation rate for September 2026?

5.54% year on year for the all-India CPI (combined), provisional, according to MoSPI's release of 12th October, 2026.

What is food inflation in India now?

7.74% in September 2026, based on the Consumer Food Price Index (MoSPI, provisional).

Is inflation higher in rural or urban India?

Rural. In September 2026 CPI inflation was 6.08% in rural areas and 4.88% in urban areas (MoSPI, provisional).

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This figure is from MoSPI's own release or a report quoting it. We recheck it monthly. If you have a newer or better source, send it to us.