Food articles saw a deflation of 1.56% as against a deflation of 0.86% in April. The rate of inflation based on WPI Food Index decreased from 2.55% in April to 1.72% in May

FPJ News Service mumbai

Falling food prices drove India’s wholesale price inflation down to a 14-month low of 0.39% in May, according to official data released on Monday. Prices for food items such as eggs, meat and fish declined by 1.01%. Prices of wheat fell  5.75%, cereals 2.56%, and paddy declined 0.96% during the month. However, the price of cooking gas (LPG) increased by 0.25% in May. 

“The annual rate of inflation based on the All India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) number stood at 0.39% for the month of May 2025 over May 2024. Positive rate of inflation in May, is primarily due to increase in prices of manufacture of food products, electricity, other manufacturing, chemicals and chemical products, manufacture of other transport equipment and non-food articles,” Ministry of Commerce & Industry said in a statement.

The rate of inflation based on WPI Food Index decreased from 2.55% in April, 2025 to 1.72% in May. The index for manufactured products, however, remained unchanged at 144.9. Month-over-month, the index for primary articles decreased by 0.05% to 184.3 in May from 184.4 for the month of April. Price of minerals (-7.16%) and non-food articles (-0.63%) decreased as compared to April.

During the month under review, food articles saw a deflation of 1.56% as against a deflation of 0.86% in April, with vegetables and potato (inflation rates) indicating a minus y-o-y growth of 21.62% and 29.42 %, respectively. Fuel & Power index declined by 0.95% to 146.7 in May from 148.1. Price of mineral oils (-2.06%) decreased in May. The price of coal (0.81%) and electricity (0.80%) increased in May. Manufactured products, however, saw inflation at 2.04%, compared to 2.62% in April.