WPI Inflation Rises to 2.13% in February; Food Inflation Up But Potato Prices Plunge by 27%, Onions by 41%

India’s wholesale price inflation rose to 2.13% in February 2026, up from 1.81% in January, even as prices of key vegetables such as onion and potato recorded sharp declines of 40.95% and 27.42% respectively on a year-on-year basis. According to provisional data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the rise in wholesale inflation was mainly driven by higher prices of manufactured products, basic metals, textiles and several food items.

Wholesale food inflation also moved up during the month. Prices of food items rose 1.85% in February, compared with 1.41% in January and -0.05% in December 2025. On a month-on-month basis, the WPI increased 0.25% in February over January 2026.

Food price trends

The WPI Food Index, which combines food articles under primary products and food products under manufactured goods, declined from 194.2 in January to 192.9 in February. However, the annual inflation rate based on the index increased to 1.85%.

Within primary food articles, inflation rose to 3.27%. Paddy prices increased 0.34%, while wheat prices declined 4.43%. Prices of pulses fell 5.92%, but vegetable prices rose 4.73%.

Among vegetables, potato prices dropped sharply by 27.42% and onion prices fell 40.95% compared with the previous year. Meanwhile, fruit prices increased 3.57%, milk prices rose 3%, and eggs, meat and fish were costlier by 5.36%.

Among manufactured items, prices of food products increased 1.12% in February, significantly lower than the 11.62% rise recorded in February 2025.

Movement in major commodity groups (Month-over Month Change)

The Primary Articles index, which has a weight of 22.62% in the WPI basket, declined 0.52% to 192.9 in February from 193.9 in January. Prices of food articles fell 1.33%, while minerals declined 1.21% during the month. However, prices of crude petroleum and natural gas rose 4.17%, and non-food articles increased 0.83% compared with January.

The Fuel and Power index (weight 13.15%) increased 1.17%, rising to 147.6 in February from 145.9 in January. The increase was mainly due to a 2.05% rise in mineral oil prices, although electricity prices declined 0.27% during the month.

The Manufactured Products group, which carries the highest weight of 64.23% in the WPI basket, recorded a 0.47% increase, with the index rising to 148.2 in February from 147.5 in January. Out of the 22 manufacturing groups, 16 recorded price increases, while five registered declines.

Major categories witnessing price increases included other manufacturing, food products, textiles, electrical equipment, and chemicals and chemical products. Meanwhile, prices declined in sectors such as basic metals, computer and electronic products, fabricated metal products, wood products, and leather goods.