food inflation

India's economy shows 'cautious resilience' despite global headwinds like Middle East conflict and rising oil prices. While manufacturing and services remain strong, and forex reserves offer a buffer, inflation concerns are mounting due to wholesale price surges. A weaker monsoon could further challenge growth and rural demand.

India faces a turbulent weather season as a strengthening El Niño threatens deficient monsoon rainfall, impacting crops and water supplies. Experts warn of erratic rain patterns, with long dry spells and intense bursts, potentially devastating rain-fed agriculture. This climate shock, coupled with economic pressures, could lead to significant food inflation and strain household budgets.

Indian stock markets experienced a significant downturn on Friday. Investor wealth saw a substantial decline of Rs 5.77 lakh crore. Benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty50, plunged sharply in the final trading hour. Concerns over a weaker monsoon outlook and geopolitical uncertainty fueled the sell-off. Broad-based selling pressure was observed across various sectors.

Amul and Mother Dairy have raised milk prices by Rs 2 per litre, impacting household budgets and adding to existing inflationary pressures. This second price revision in 13 months is attributed to increased operational costs, including cattle feed and fuel.

Get ready for pricier meals as India's restaurants and delivery apps plan a 5-10% food cost increase from next week. Soaring fuel prices, coupled with LPG shortages and staff issues, are forcing businesses to pass on rising transportation, packaging, and input expenses. This move disrupts annual pricing cycles, impacting dining out and delivery costs.

Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are directly impacting household budgets, driving up prices for everyday essentials like cooking oil, milk, and bread. Soaring global crude oil prices and a weakening rupee are increasing import, fuel, and transportation costs, leading to a domino effect on consumer goods and even healthcare services.

India's retail inflation climbed to a 13-month high of 3.48% in April, primarily fueled by soaring food prices. Consumer Food Price Index accelerated to 4.20%, with rural inflation outpacing urban rates. While silver and gold jewellery saw significant price hikes, tomatoes surged, but potatoes and onions experienced deflation. This marks the second consecutive monthly rise, nearing the RBI's target.

Odisha's hotel and restaurant association lauded Prime Minister Modi's call for domestic travel, seeing it as a significant boost for the nation's tourism and hospitality. This focus on local tourism promises to stimulate demand, increase spending, and accelerate economic activity.

Indian consumers may soon face higher prices as wholesale inflation surges, driven by global conflicts impacting commodity and energy costs. While retail inflation remains soft for now, a widening gap between wholesale and consumer price indices suggests businesses will likely pass on increased production expenses, leading to costlier everyday goods and services in the coming months.

India's retail inflation remains largely unaffected by West Asian conflict, with SBI retaining its FY27 forecast at 4.5%. While imported inflation eased slightly, rising food prices, particularly tomatoes, are a key driver. Future trends hinge on energy price pass-through and summer crop progress, with the RBI flagging upside risks.

As the clock ticks toward November, UK families are bracing for an alarming 50% hike in food prices, a stark reminder of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Factors such as climate change, disrupted supply chains, and erratic energy prices are driving this inflationary tide, hitting essentials like pasta and olive oil hard.

India is experiencing extreme heatwaves, with temperatures soaring and heatwaves arriving earlier and with greater intensity. This is exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to strengthen. The heat poses significant health risks and economic challenges, impacting daily life and livelihoods across the nation. Adaptation and mitigation strategies are crucial for navigating this growing crisis.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast the possibility of El Nino conditions during the South West monsoon season. Economists and experts note that a weak monsoon will add to the woes caused by higher crude oil prices, and fertilizer supply disruptions.

In this interview, economist Ajit Ranade explains why the anger in Noida ran deeper than one wage hike. At the heart of it, he argues, are stagnant incomes, contract labour, rising prices, and a factory economy built on persistent insecurity

Retail inflation in India rose to 3.4% in March, driven by higher food and fuel prices. While core inflation remained subdued, economists anticipate further price increases in the coming months due to the West Asian crisis and potential impacts of heatwaves and monsoon forecasts on food prices.

food inflation, based on the All India Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI), was 3.87% (provisional) for March 2026 on a year-on-year basis. The rate was slightly higher in rural areas at 3.96%, compared to 3.71% in urban regions.