EconomySaturday, 18 July 2026·The Hindu - Economy
June 2026 retail inflation at 4.4%: first breach of RBI’s 4% target since December 2024
Retail inflation hit an 18-month high of 4.4% in June 2026, driven by food, fuel and higher gold and silver prices.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In June 2026, India’s retail inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose to 4.4%, the first time it crossed the Reserve Bank of India’s 4% target since December 2024.
Key specifics
- June 2026 CPI inflation of 4.4% was an 18-month high.
- Food inflation marginally crossed 5% in June 2026, the highest in the new CPI series.
- Transport inflation rose to 4.3% in June 2026 from 1.7% in May.
- The ‘personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods & services’ category recorded 16.7% inflation in June 2026.
- Higher gold and silver prices, along with import duties and fuel price hikes, added to inflationary pressure.
Exam lens
Question type: CPI and inflation data, 4.4%, 5% food inflation, 4.3% transport inflation, 16.7% personal care category; TNPSC may ask which component crossed 5% first in the new CPI series.