GS3 · Inflation

WPI inflation 9.87% in June 2026; fuel and power 27.41%

Battle IAS current affairs title card: WPI inflation 9.87% in June 2026; fuel and power 27.41% (GS3 · Inflation, 14 July 2026)
Asked by UPSCPrelims 20201 PYQ

UPSC has already asked about this. Read the story with these questions in mind.

Battle Brief

India’s wholesale price inflation (WPI, base 2022-23) rose to 9.87% in June 2026 from 9.68% in May, the Commerce Ministry said on 14 July. Fuel and power inflation was 27.41%, primary articles 7.0% and manufactured products 7.48%. Mineral oils, food articles, basic metals and chemical products drove the rise.

Fact File

Released
14 Jul 2026, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (DPIIT)
WPI inflation, June 2026
9.87% (May: 9.68%)
All-commodities index
110.2 (May: 109.9)
Fuel and power
27.41% (May: 30.33%)
Food Index
6.14% (May: 4.49%); weight 24.99%
April 2026 final
revised to 8.36% from 8.26%
In the news

WPI inflation in June 2026: what happened?

Wholesale prices are what factories and traders pay. Six months ago WPI inflation was barely above 1%. By June 2026 it was close to 10%. The main reason is fuel: mineral oil prices jumped from March, and that cost flows into transport, chemicals and metals.

  • Primary articles inflation rose to 7.0% from 4.99% in May.
  • Fuel and power eased to 27.41% from 30.33%, but stays very high.
  • Manufactured products held at 7.48%.
  • Mineral oils inflation was 46.48% in June (49.82% in May); crude petroleum and natural gas 34.75% (61.51% in May).
  • Food articles inflation rose to 5.49% from 3.6%.
Back Story

What is the WPI and how is it built?

  • The WPI measures price changes at the wholesale level; the current series has base year 2022-23.
  • It has three major groups: Primary Articles (weight 22.76), Fuel and Power (14.11) and Manufactured Products (63.13).
  • The Food Index combines Food Articles from primary articles and Manufacture of Food Products from manufactured products; its weight is 24.99%.
  • Provisional WPI, Output PPI and trial Input PPI for a month come out on the 14th of the next month; final figures follow two months later.
  • June 2026 provisional data used a weighted response rate of 82.6%; the final April figure used 97.5%.
By the numbers

How fast has WPI inflation risen?

WPI inflation, YoY (Annexure-II, PIB, 14 Jul 2026)
Month (2026)All commoditiesFuel and PowerPrimary ArticlesManufactured
January1.19%-3.83%-0.09%2.82%
February2.18%-3.37%1.64%3.61%
March3.98%3.2%2.58%4.8%
April (final)8.36%25%3.96%6.68%
May9.68%30.33%4.99%7.48%
June9.87%27.41%7.0%7.48%

May and June are provisional.

By the numbers

Which items are driving it?

Selected groups, June 2026 YoY (Annexure-II)
GroupInflation
Mineral oils46.48%
Crude petroleum and natural gas34.75%
Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products12.78%
Manufacture of textiles10.85%
Non-food articles11.07%
Food articles5.49%
Electricity-0.76%
Why examiners care

Why does WPI inflation in June 2026 matter?

AngleWhat to note
CostsHigh fuel inflation raises costs for transport, chemicals and metals.
Retail pricesWholesale costs can pass through to consumer prices over time.
PolicyFuel-led inflation limits room for monetary easing.
FiscalPressure on fuel and fertiliser subsidy bills.
DataProvisional estimates are revised; April moved from 8.26% to 8.36%.
Fault Lines

What are the challenges in WPI inflation in June 2026?

  • WPI inflation jumped from 1.19% in January to 9.87% in June 2026.
  • Fuel and power inflation above 25% for three months in a row.
  • Primary articles inflation is now rising too (7.0%).
  • The June figure rests on an 82.6% response rate and may be revised.
Road Ahead

What should be done next on WPI inflation in June 2026?

  • Watch whether easing crude and gas prices in June pass through in coming months.
  • Track food inflation, which has started rising.
  • Watch July WPI, due on 14 August 2026.
Exam Radar

What can Prelims ask on WPI inflation in June 2026?

  • WPI base year: 2022-23; released on the 14th of the following month.
  • June 2026: 9.87%; fuel and power 27.41%; primary 7.0%; manufactured 7.48%.
  • Weights: manufactured about 63%, primary about 23%, fuel and power about 14%.
  • Food Index weight: 24.99%.
  • Also released: Output PPI and trial Input PPI.
Answer Lab

How to write about WPI inflation in June 2026 in Mains

Practice question (10 marks, 150 words): Fuel price shocks travel through the economy via wholesale prices. Analyse the trend in WPI inflation in the first half of 2026 and its implications.

  • Intro: WPI from 1.19% (Jan) to 9.87% (June 2026).
  • Drivers: mineral oils, crude and gas, then food and metals.
  • Implications: costs, CPI pass-through, policy space, subsidies.
  • Way forward: monitor, supply measures.
  • Conclusion.

How to use this in Mains

GS-III Indian economy: growth, development and macro stability

  1. As per PIB (2026-07-14): WPI inflation (base 2022-23) was 9.87% in June 2026 vs 9.68% in May; primary articles 7.0%, fuel & power 27.41%, manufactured 7.48%.
  2. Fuel is pushing up costs across industry, as the WPI shows.
Quotable data point

WPI inflation (base 2022-23) was 9.87% in June 2026 vs 9.68% in May.

PIB: Commerce: WPI June 2026, 14 Jul 2026

Exam angle

UPSC

Prelims: WPI groups.

Practice MCQs

Original practice questions (not PYQs).

Practice · UPSC

In the WPI series with base 2022-23, which major group has the largest weight?

Answer (c) & explanation

PIB (Commerce), 14 Jul 2026, Annexure-I.

Practice · UPSC

Consider the following about WPI inflation in June 2026:
1. Fuel and power inflation was higher than in May 2026.
2. Primary articles inflation was higher than in May 2026.
3. Manufactured products inflation was unchanged from May 2026.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

Answer (b) & explanation

PIB (Commerce), 14 Jul 2026: fuel and power eased from 30.33% to 27.41%.

Quick questions

Questions students ask about this

What was WPI inflation in June 2026?

9.87% year on year, up from 9.68% in May 2026, on the 2022-23 base.

Which group had the highest inflation?

Fuel and power, at 27.41%; within it mineral oils were at 46.48%.

What is the weight of manufactured products in the WPI?

About 63% (63.12837 in the official weights).

When is WPI data released?

Provisional figures are released on the 14th of the following month, or the next working day.

Keep studying

Go deeper

Official source: PIB: Commerce: WPI June 2026, 14 Jul 2026

facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending