Retail inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose to 3.93 per cent in May 2026, up from 3.48 per cent in April, according to provisional data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on Friday.
The year-on-year inflation rate for rural areas stood at 4.25 per cent, while urban inflation was recorded at 3.53 per cent. The all-India CPI (Combined) index for May was placed at 105.91.
Food inflation, measured by the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI), increased to 4.78 per cent in May from 4.20 per cent in April. Rural food inflation was recorded at 4.85 per cent, while urban food inflation stood at 4.66 per cent. The combined CFPI index was 105.35 during the month.
Among major categories, inflation in food and beverages stood at 4.55 per cent, while restaurants and accommodation services recorded inflation of 5.75 per cent. Personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services registered the highest inflation among divisions at 18.46 per cent. Education services recorded inflation of 2.99 per cent, while health inflation stood at 1.49 per cent.
Housing inflation for May was estimated at 2.12 per cent. The corresponding rates were 2.73 per cent in rural areas and 1.91 per cent in urban areas.
Data released by the government showed that silver jewellery recorded the highest inflation among key items at 155.23 per cent in May, followed by tomato at 48.43 per cent, gold, diamond and platinum jewellery at 40.93 per cent, ginger at 32.49 per cent, and raisins and monacca at 21.97 per cent.
On the other hand, potato prices continued to remain in deflation territory with inflation at minus 23.71 per cent. Peas recorded inflation of minus 11.47 per cent, while motor cars and jeeps, cumin (jeera), and motorcycles and scooters also registered negative inflation during the month.
Among states and Union Territories with a population of more than 50 lakh, Telangana recorded the highest combined inflation rate at 6.15 per cent, followed by Tamil Nadu at 5.11 per cent, Puducherry at 5.00 per cent and Andhra Pradesh at 4.90 per cent.
The National Statistical Office (NSO) said price data for the index was collected from 1,407 urban markets, including online markets, and 1,465 villages across the country. The response rate during May was 100 per cent in both rural and urban markets.
The CPI data for June 2026 will be released on July 13, 2026, the Ministry said.
