The rise in wholesale price inflation in June to nine point eight seven per cent was attributed by the Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, to price pressures in items sensitive to global commodity and energy costs. He informed Parliament that the increase reflected movements in mineral oils, food articles, basic metals and chemicals and chemical products. The minister said the government has been undertaking a series of measures to control inflation and mitigate its impact on consumers.

Measures include augmenting buffer stocks for essential food items, selling procured grains in the open market and calibrating trade policies to stabilise supplies. The minister said these steps are implemented in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India on price stability. The government notified on 25 March 2026 the consumer price index target as four per cent with lower and upper tolerances of two per cent and six per cent for the period from one April 2026 to 31 March 2031.

Retail inflation was below the four per cent target over the last two quarters, at three point one per cent in January to March of fiscal year 26 and three point nine per cent in April to June of fiscal year 27, the minister said. India’s retail inflation rose to a provisional four point thirty eight per cent in June 2026 from three point ninety three per cent in May, driven by higher food and transport prices. The minister said policy aims to keep expectations anchored while supporting growth.

On a year on year basis the wholesale price index based inflation increased from nine point six eight per cent in May to nine point eight seven per cent in June, the minister added in a written reply. He explained mineral oils including petroleum products contributed to the rise given their sensitivity to global energy movements, and that international commodity price trends had fed into wholesale prices. The government said it will continue to monitor developments and use available policy tools to mitigate the impact on consumers and producers.