Food Inflation (CFPI) in india
Food Inflation (CFPI): Key Updates
All India Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) – May 2026
India CPI – Food Inflation (CFPI): India’s Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) inflation continued to accelerate in May 2026. The year-on-year food inflation rate based on the All India Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) stood at 4.78% (Provisional), up from 4.20% in April 2026, marking the third consecutive monthly increase in food inflation.
The latest data indicate that food price pressures continued to strengthen after the subdued and deflationary trends witnessed during late 2025. The rise in food inflation was primarily driven by higher prices of food items such as tomatoes, ginger, fruits, meat & fish, and other food products, while falling prices of potatoes and peas helped partially offset the overall increase. According to the National Statistics Office (NSO), tomatoes recorded an annual inflation of 48.43%, while ginger prices surged 32.49% year-on-year.
The sustained increase in food inflation is continuing to place pressure on headline retail inflation upward. In May 2026, rural food inflation rose to 4.85%, while urban food inflation increased to 4.66%, indicating that food prices accelerated across both regions, with rural areas experiencing slightly stronger inflationary pressures than urban centres.
| Parameter | Status / Finding |
| CFPI Combined | 4.78% (Provisional) — up from 4.20% in April 2026 |
| Rural CFPI | 4.85% — higher than urban; rural food price pressures remain stronger |
| Urban CFPI | 4.66% — food inflation increased across urban markets |
| Key upward drivers | Tomato +48.43%, Ginger +32.49%, Raisin (Kishmish) +21.97% |
| Key downward drivers | Potato −23.71%, Peas −11.47%, Cumin (Jeera) −4.59% |
| Worst-affected state | Telangana — CPI 6.15%, food inflation 6.71%; highest among major states |
| Least-affected state | Mizoram — CPI 1.03%; food price environment remained relatively stable |
Key Observations and Reasons for Movement in CFPI
- Higher prices of tomatoes (48.43%) and ginger (32.49%) were among the key contributors to the rise in food inflation.
- Price increases in fruits, meat & fish, and other food items also added upward pressure to the CFPI.
- Declining prices of potatoes (-23.71%) and peas (-11.47%) helped moderate food inflation, but were not enough to offset the rise in other food categories.
- Rural food inflation (4.85%) remained higher than urban food inflation (4.66%), indicating relatively stronger food price pressures in rural areas.
- The broad-based increase in food prices continued to push overall food inflation higher, making food a significant contributor to the rise in consumer inflation during May 2026.
| Potato | −23.71% |
| Peas | −11.47% |
| Cumin (Jeera) | −4.59% |
| Tomato | +48.43% |
| Ginger | +32.49% |
| Raisin (Kishmish) | +21.97% |
Impact On Households
- Households are likely to experience higher grocery expenses as food inflation increased to 4.78% in May 2026, making essential food items more expensive.
- Rural households may face relatively greater pressure, as rural food inflation (4.85%) remained higher than urban food inflation (4.66%).
- Higher prices of vegetables and other essential food items, particularly tomatoes and ginger, can increase the monthly food budget for families.
- Lower prices of potatoes and peas provide some relief to consumers, but the savings are outweighed by price increases across several other food categories.
- Since food accounts for a significant share of household spending, especially for lower- and middle-income families, sustained food inflation can reduce disposable income and limit spending on non-essential goods and services.
Impact On Market
- Food retailers and grocery businesses may witness higher selling prices, reflecting the continued rise in food inflation to 4.78% in May 2026.
- Producers and traders of vegetables, fruits, meat & fish, and other food items may benefit from stronger prices, while consumers face higher purchasing costs.
- Food processing companies and restaurants could experience higher input costs, which may eventually be passed on to consumers through increased prices.
- Persistent food inflation may keep inflation expectations elevated, encouraging businesses to remain cautious about future pricing and inventory decisions.
- If food inflation continues to rise in the coming months, it could influence monetary policy expectations, as sustained food price pressures contribute to overall consumer inflation.
Food Inflation (CFPI) in India: Historical Chart
Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) Rate Chart - Historical & Current Trends
About Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI)
Overview – In India, food inflation is tracked through the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which keeps an eye on how the prices of essential food items change over time. It’s a key measure that helps us understand the cost of living and overall economic stability. Within the CPI, there’s a specific sub-index called the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) that hones in exclusively on food prices.
CFPI includes the price changes of commonly consumed food items such as Cereals (like rice and wheat), Vegetables, Fruits, Dairy products (milk, cheese, butter), Meat and fish, and other food staples. When CFPI rises, it means food prices are increasing, making daily expenses higher for consumers. When it falls, food becomes more affordable.
FAQs
CFPI stands for Consumer Food Price Index, which measures the change in retail prices of food items consumed by households. It is a sub-index of CPI (Consumer Price Index) and focuses only on food categories like cereals, pulses, vegetables, milk, meat, and oils.
While CPI tracks price changes in a wide basket of goods and services (including housing, fuel, clothing, etc.), CFPI tracks only food-related inflation. It helps isolate food price trends and volatility.
CFPI is crucial for: Tracking food inflation trends that directly impact household budgets, Policy decisions by RBI on interest rates (especially during inflation targeting), and Understanding seasonal or supply-driven shocks (like vegetable or pulse price surges).
CFPI is released monthly, usually around the 12th of each month, along with headline CPI data. It includes: Month-on-month (MoM) change and Year-on-year (YoY) inflation rate.
The CFPI data on this page is sourced directly from the National Statistical Office (NSO), MoSPI, as part of the monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) release. ChartForest updates the data as soon as the latest release is published—typically around the 12th of every month.
Related Indicators
Other Indicators
Monetary Policy & Banking Indicators
GDP & Economic Growth Indicators
Trade & External Sector Indicators
Business & Industrial Indicators
Consumer & Labour Market Indicators
Important
If you notice any discrepancies in the data or find any inaccuracies, please let us know. We will review and correct them as soon as possible.
