WPI inflation turns negative in June at -0.13%, first time since Oct 2023

The wholesale price inflation (WPI) declined to (-) 0.13% in June primarily due to a decline in prices of food articles, mineral oils, basic metals, and crude petroleum, data released by the commerce and industry ministry showed on Monday.

The annual rate of inflation based on the All-India Wholesale Price Index number stood at (-) 0.13% for June 2025 over June 2024.

Month-on-month, the index for primary articles, which has a weight of 22.62%, rose by 0.81% to 185.8 in June from 184.3 in May. Prices of minerals (1.49%), non-food articles (1.26%) and food articles (0.82%) increased, while crude petroleum and natural gas prices declined by 0.44%.

The Fuel & Power index, with a weight of 13.15%, declined by 2.52% to 143.0 in June from 146.7 in May, mainly due to a sharp fall in electricity prices by 9.10%, along with mineral oils (-0.54%) and coal (-0.07%).

The index for Manufactured Products, with the highest weight of 64.23%, fell marginally by 0.07% to 144.8 in June from 144.9 in May.

Out of 22 NIC two-digit groups under manufactured products, prices increased in 11 groups including other manufacturing; machinery and equipment; pharmaceuticals and computer, electronic and optical products.

Prices declined in six groups such as manufacture of basic metals, food products, fabricated metal products, tobacco products, and rubber and plastics products, while five groups showed no change.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) mainly takes into account retail inflation while formulating the monetary policy.

Retail inflation data for June is scheduled to be released later in the day.

The RBI last month cut benchmark policy interest rates by a sharp 0.5% to 5.50% amid easing inflation.