Wholesale price inflation rises to 8.3% in April on sharp spike in fuel, power, crude

Wholesale price inflation shot up to 8.30% in April, from 3.88% in March, led by a sharp spike in prices of fuel, power and crude petroleum.

Wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation in fuel and power jumped to 24.71% in April, from 1.05% in March. In crude petroleum, inflation was 88.06% in April compared to 51.5% in the previous month.

The sharp rise in WPI inflation reflects the impact of the West Asia crisis and the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz through which the majority of the crude oil is imported to India.

Inflation in food articles was 1.98% in April, compared to 1.90% in March. In non-food articles, inflation rose to 12.18% during April, 11.5% in the previous month, data released by the commerce and industry ministry showed.

“Positive rate of inflation in April 2026 is primarily due to an increase in prices of mineral oils, crude petroleum & natural gas, basic metals, other manufacturing and non-food articles, etc.,” the ministry said in a statement.

In the fuel and power basket, inflation in LPG was 10.92% in April, as against (-) 1.54% in March, while in petrol it was 32.40% against 2.50% in the previous month. In high-speed diesel, inflation was 25.19% in April against 3.26% in March.

Despite a 50% spike in global crude oil prices, the government has so far held fuel pump and household LPG rates stable to shield households from the impact of the retail price rise of petrol, diesel and LPG. However, prices of commercial LPG cylinders have been raised.