India’s consumer price index (CPI) inflation edged higher in February 2026, rising to 3.21% year-over-year from 2.75% in January 2026, according to data updated on 12 March 2026. The figures are calculated on a year-over-year basis, comparing each month’s price levels with the same month a year earlier.
The move from 2.75% to 3.21% indicates a continued firming of inflationary pressures, though the pace remains moderate by historical standards. The January reading had already signaled an uptick, and February’s data extends that trend, suggesting that underlying demand and price dynamics are gaining traction.
With the “actual” figures reflecting February 2026 versus February a year earlier, and the “previous” figure comparing January 2026 to January a year earlier, the data underscore a clear month-on-month acceleration in year-over-year inflation, a development that markets and policymakers will monitor closely in the coming months.
