Price pressures on everyday goods and essential services intensified in August, with India’s retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rising to 4.82% during the month.

The latest inflation reading provides an important indication of how price pressures evolved compared with July. The CPI measures changes in the prices consumers pay for a broad range of goods and services, including food and beverages, housing, healthcare, education and transportation.

According to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), food prices remained a significant source of inflationary pressure during the month.

Food Inflation Stands at 5.95%

Food inflation, measured through the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI), stood at 5.95% in August, remaining above the headline retail inflation rate of 4.82%.

The figures highlight the continued impact of food prices on household budgets, with food inflation exerting greater pressure than overall consumer inflation.

The inflationary burden was particularly pronounced in rural areas, where both headline and food inflation were higher