October retail inflation rises to 6.09% as food prices accelerate

India's combined Consumer Price Index inflation rose to 6.09% in October 2026, from a final September reading of 5.54%. The October data, released on 12 November 2026, are provisional and use base year 2024. The annual rate compares the price level in October 2026 with October 2025. The increase between the September and October annual rates is 0.55 percentage points.

Rural retail inflation was 6.63%, compared with 5.41% in urban areas. The Consumer Food Price Index recorded combined annual food inflation of 8.94%, against 7.74% in September 2026. Rural food inflation was 9.09% and urban food inflation 8.68%. The combined general price index was 110.05, while the combined food index was 113.23. Those index levels should not be mistaken for inflation percentages. The figures describe a measured basket and geographical aggregates; they do not mean that every household or every item experienced precisely the same price increase. The release reports observed inflation rather than predicting a particular future monetary-policy decision.

Facts to remember

• Release date: 12 November 2026; reference month: October 2026; base year: 2024.
• Combined annual CPI inflation: 6.09%, provisional; September final rate: 5.54%.
• Rural CPI inflation: 6.63%; urban CPI inflation: 5.41%.
• Combined annual food inflation: 8.94%; rural: 9.09%; urban: 8.68%.

Background

A consumer price index tracks changes in the prices of a basket of goods and services. An annual inflation rate compares an index with the same month a year earlier. By contrast, a percentage-point change compares two percentage rates, which is why the rise from 5.54% to 6.09% equals 0.55 percentage points.

Why it matters for exams

For CLAT Economy, distinguish headline inflation from food inflation, provisional data from final data, and index levels from annual percentage changes.