India’s Retail Inflation at 2.75 Percent in January 2026 Under New CPI Series (Base 2024 = 100)

India’s retail inflation stood at 2.75 percent in January 2026 under the new Consumer Price Index (CPI) series with base year 2024 = 100, as released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

This is the first inflation data released under the updated CPI framework, replacing the earlier 2012 base year.

Inflation Data – January 2026 (Provisional)

All India CPI Inflation

• 2.75 percent

Rural and Urban Inflation

• Rural: 2.73 percent
• Urban: 2.77 percent

Food Inflation (CFPI)

• Overall: 2.13 percent
• Rural: 1.96 percent
• Urban: 2.44 percent

Housing Inflation

• Overall: 2.05 percent
• Rural: 2.39 percent
• Urban: 1.92 percent

The data shows that inflation remains moderate, with food and housing prices under control.

What Is New in the CPI Series (Base 2024 = 100)

The new CPI series is based on the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023–24. It better reflects current spending patterns of Indian households.

Updated Base Year

• Old base year: 2012
• New base year: 2024

More Detailed Classification

The new series follows the Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose (COICOP) 2018 framework.

• Earlier: 6 major groups
• Now: 12 consumption divisions

This allows more detailed and accurate inflation data.

Expanded Item Basket

The total number of items has increased:

• Total weighted items: 358 (earlier 299)
• Goods items: 308 (earlier 259)
• Services items: 50 (earlier 40)

This reflects the rising share of services in household consumption.

New Items Added

The revised CPI basket now includes:

• Rural housing
• Online media and streaming services
• Value-added dairy products
• Barley and related products
• Pen drives and external hard disks
• Attendant and babysitter services
• Exercise equipment
• Cleaner fuels like CNG and PNG

Items Removed

The following outdated items have been removed:

• VCR, VCD and DVD players
• Radios and tape recorders
• CD and DVD audio-video cassettes
• Second-hand clothing
• Coir or rope

Exam-Oriented MCQs

Q1. What was India’s retail inflation rate in January 2026 under the new CPI series (Base 2024 = 100)?
(a) 2.13 percent
(b) 2.75 percent
(c) 3.05 percent
(d) 1.92 percent
(e) 2.39 percent

Q2. The new CPI series with base year 2024 = 100 has replaced which earlier base year?
(a) 2005
(b) 2010
(c) 2012
(d) 2015
(e) 2018

Q3. The new CPI series is based on which survey conducted in 2023–24?
(a) Periodic Labour Force Survey
(b) National Family Health Survey
(c) Household Consumption Expenditure Survey
(d) Economic Census
(e) Agricultural Census

Q4. Under the revised CPI framework, the number of consumption divisions has increased to:
(a) 6
(b) 8
(c) 10
(d) 12
(e) 14

Q5. How many total weighted items are included in the new CPI basket?
(a) 299
(b) 320
(c) 340
(d) 358
(e) 400

Q6. Which of the following is a newly added item in the revised CPI basket?
(a) VCR players
(b) Tape recorders
(c) Online streaming services
(d) CD audio cassettes
(e) Coir products