India's wholesale inflation stays negative in July at -0.58%

The wholesale price-based inflation remained in the negative zone at (-) 0.58% in July, 2025, primarily due to a decline in prices of food articles, mineral oils, crude petroleum & natural gas, and basic metals, according to official data released on Thursday.

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation was (-) 0.26% in June, 2025, and 1.32% in July, 2024.

The index for primary articles rose 1.18% month-on-month, with prices of crude petroleum & natural gas up 2.56%, non-food articles up 2.11% and food articles up 0.96%, while minerals fell 1.08%.

Fuel and power prices rose 1.12% on the month, led by a 1.98% increase in mineral oils, though coal and electricity prices dropped 0.44% and 0.36%, respectively.

Of the 22 sub-groups, nine witnessed price rises, nine recorded declines and four remained unchanged. Basic metals, fabricated metal products, food products, chemicals, and paper products were among the categories that saw a fall in prices, while other manufacturing, transport equipment, motor vehicles, non-metallic mineral products, and furniture registered gains.

The WPI Food Index, comprising food articles from Primary Articles and food products from Manufactured Products, inched up to 191.3 in July from 190.2 in June. However, the annual inflation rate for the food index worsened to (-) 2.15% in July from (-) 0.26% in June.

The commerce ministry will release WPI data for August on September 15.