New Delhi, March 12: India’s retail inflation rate for February stood at 3.21%, an increase of 0.47% from January’s rate of 2.74%. This information was released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on Thursday.
According to the data provided by the ministry, the rural retail inflation rate in February was 3.37%, compared to 2.73% in January. In urban areas, the inflation rate for February was recorded at 3.02%, up from 2.75% in January.
The food inflation rate for February was 3.47%, with rural food inflation at 3.46% and urban food inflation at 3.48%.
The ministry highlighted that the five items that saw the most significant annual price decreases in February included garlic (-31.09%), onions (-28.20%), potatoes (-18.46%), arhar dal (-16%), and lychee (-11.52%).
Conversely, the five items with the highest price increases were silver jewelry (160.84%), gold/diamond/platinum jewelry (48.16%), copra (46.16%), tomatoes (45.29%), and cauliflower (43.77%).
Additionally, the inflation rates for food and beverages in February were 3.35%, for pan and tobacco 3.49%, for clothing and footwear 2.81%, for housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels 1.52%, and for education services 3.33%.
The states with the highest inflation rates in February, among those with a population of over 5 million, included Telangana (5.02%), Rajasthan (3.53%), Kerala (3.50%), Andhra Pradesh (3.45%), and West Bengal (3.44%).
An official statement noted that the National Statistical Office (NSO) collects real-time price data from 1,407 selected urban markets (including online markets) and 1,465 villages through weekly visits by field staff from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. In February 2026, price data was collected from 100% of rural and urban markets, with reported prices covering 99.89% of rural markets and 99.78% of urban markets.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.