Lowest CPI since 2017: Retail inflation cools to 1.54% in September; food prices remain in deflation for 4th straight month
The latest figures, based on the All India Consumer Price Index (CPI), mark a 53-basis point drop from the August inflation rate of 2.07%, reflecting a steady cooling trend in price pressures across key categories.The Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) showed a deflation of -2.28% year-on-year, compared with -0.64% in August, indicating a deeper fall in food prices.
Rural food inflation stood at -2.17%, while urban food inflation was -2.47%, the release said.The release attributed the decline in both headline and food inflation to a favourable base effect and lower prices of vegetables, edible oils, fruits, pulses, cereals, eggs, fuel, and light items.
The ministry noted that the September food inflation was the lowest since December 2018.In the rural sector, headline inflation dropped to 1.07% in September from 1.69% in August, while the urban inflation rate eased to 2.04% from 2.47% in the same period.Among other key components, housing inflation rose to 3.98% in September from 3.09% a month earlier, while education inflation edged down slightly to 3.44% from 3.60%.The health category recorded a mild easing, with inflation at 4.34% versus 4.40% in August.
Similarly, transport and communication inflation softened to 1.82% from 1.94%, and fuel and light inflation declined to 1.98% from 2.32% in the previous month.
