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Retail inflation rises to 23-month high in September
వార్తల్లో ఎందుకు?
CPI hits 5.5%, a 23-month high: which body compiles it, and why GS-III inflation answers need it
Retail inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index rose to 5.5 per cent in September 2026, the highest since October 2024.
Why it matters: factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 నిమి
Retail inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index rose to 5.5 per cent in September 2026, the highest since October 2024.
The rate was up sharply from 4.8 per cent in August and was driven by food, fuel and precious metals.
The data is released by the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
మూలాలు: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
ముఖ్య వాస్తవాలు
Remember these
- CPI inflation rose to 5.5% in September 2026, the highest since October 2024.
- It was up from 4.8% in August 2026, driven by food, fuel and precious metals.
- CPI is released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) under MoSPI.
- The Labour Bureau compiles sectional CPIs (CPI-IW, CPI-AL, CPI-RL); the Office of the Economic Adviser compiles the Wholesale Price Index.
- RBI targets CPI inflation under its flexible inflation targeting framework (4% with a +/-2% band).
ప్రిలిమ్స్ · మెయిన్స్
How the exam will ask it
ప్రిలిమ్స్
- Statement: The headline CPI (Combined) is compiled and released by the National Statistics Office under MoSPI. (Correct)
- Statement: The Wholesale Price Index is compiled by the National Statistics Office. (Incorrect: it is compiled by the Office of the Economic Adviser, DPIIT)
- Statement: The Reserve Bank of India targets CPI inflation under the monetary policy framework but does not compile the index. (Correct)
మెయిన్స్
GS-III (Indian Economy): Rising CPI inflation, led by food, fuel and precious metals, tests the RBI's inflation-targeting mandate and squeezes household purchasing power. Policy levers include repo rate calibration, supply-side food management such as buffer stocks, import duty changes and market interventions. The way forward is better coordination between monetary and fiscal policy, improved storage and supply chains, and timely, transparent inflation data.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
India's headline retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (Combined), is compiled and released by which body?
- Labour Bureau, Ministry of Labour and Employment
- Reserve Bank of India's Department of Statistics and Information Management
- Office of the Economic Adviser, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
- National Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
సమాధానం చూడండి
సమాధానం: D — National Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation releases the CPI (Combined); the Labour Bureau handles the sectional CPIs and the Office of the Economic Adviser the Wholesale Price Index.
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