Retail inflation continues to rise, reaches 7.79 percent in April

Inflation, based on the retail price index, rose to an eight-year high of 7.79 per cent in April 2022, amid rise in prices of edible oils, vegetables and cereals and meat and fish.

In the previous month, retail inflation was 6.95 per cent in March and 4.23 per cent in April 2021. Earlier in May 2014, retail inflation was 8.3 per cent.

According to preliminary data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), the retail price index for all commodity groups stood at 170.1 in April as against 157.8 in April 2021.

Overall food inflation rose to 8.38 per cent in April from 7.68 per cent in March. Food inflation stood at 1.96 per cent in April last year.
Rural retail inflation rose to 8.38 per cent in April from 7.66 per cent a month ago. Meanwhile, retail inflation for the urban sector touched 7.09 per cent in April as compared to 6.12 per cent in March.

This is the fourth consecutive month that retail inflation is above the target range of 06 per cent set by the Reserve Bank of India.

Earlier this month, the Reserve Bank has increased its policy rate by 0.40 percent to 4.40 percent to control inflation.
The Reserve Bank has also increased the limit on cash reserve ratio applicable to banks by 0.5 percent.