New Delhi, June 16: Annual WPI inflation (provisional) stood at 9.68 per cent, compared with 8.26 per cent in April 2026. Fuel and Power inflation accelerated to 30.33 per cent, while Manufactured Products inflation rose to 7.48 per cent. Key contributors to inflation included mineral oils, crude petroleum and natural gas, chemicals, and basic metals.

“The launch of the new WPI and Producer Price Index series represents an important modernization of India’s price statistics architecture. The updated methodology, expanded coverage, and improved representation of economic activity will provide policymakers, businesses, and researchers with more accurate and relevant indicators of producer-level price movements said Mr. Rajeev Juneja, President, PHDCCI.

Office of the Economic Adviser, has launched a revised series of the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) with base year 2022-23, replacing the existing 2011-12 series. Simultaneously, the Government has introduced new series of Output Producer Price Index (OPPI), Trial Input Producer Price Index (IPPI), and Service Producer Price Indices (Service PPIs) for selected service sectors.

The revised framework reflects structural changes in the Indian economy, incorporates a larger basket of commodities, and adopts improved methodologies for weighting, index compilation, and treatment of missing data. The new WPI basket contains 957 items compared to 697 items in the previous series and includes emerging energy sources such as solar, wind, and nuclear power.

But looking ahead, the recently announced framework agreement between the United States and Iran, including the proposed reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, could have important implications for wholesale inflation in India, he said.

Global crude oil prices have already declined sharply on expectations of improved energy supplies and reduced geopolitical risk, with Brent crude falling by around 4% following the announcement.

Since fuel and power inflation was a key driver of the 9.68% WPI inflation recorded in May 2026, a sustained easing in international oil prices could moderate cost pressures across fuel, transport, chemicals, metals, and other energy-intensive sectors in the coming months.

The newly released Output Producer Price Index recorded an index level of 109.6 in May 2026, while the Trial Input Producer Price Index for the manufacturing sector stood at 104.9. Service Producer Price Indices have also been released for seven service sectors, including banking, insurance, telecom, railways, air passenger transport, securities transactions, and pension fund management.

The parallel publication of WPI and PPI over the next five years will facilitate a smooth transition toward a producer price framework that is increasingly adopted across advanced and emerging economies. Going forward, the expanded data on producer price indicators is expected to strengthen inflation analysis, and improve industry-level price monitoring said Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, SG & CEO, PHDCCI.