Wholesale price inflation rises 3.88 pc in March on surge in crude rates
GST
Dated:- 15-4-2026
PTI
New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI) Wholesale price inflation rose for the fifth straight month, at 3.88 per cent in March, driven by a sharp spike in rates of fuel, power and manufactured items amid the West Asia crisis, government data showed on Wednesday.
Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation was 2.13 per cent in the previous month and 2.25 per cent in March last year.
“Positive rate of inflation in March 2026 is primarily due to increase in prices of crude petroleum & natural gas, other manufacturing, non-food articles, manufacture of basic metals and food articles, etc.,” the industry ministry said in a statement.
Accord
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ent since the crisis began on February 28.
The government, on March 26, reduced excise duty by Rs 10 per litre on both petrol and diesel to ensure that fuel retailers do not pass the higher crude oil price to consumers.
The excise duty cut decision was taken in response to the steep and rapid rise in international crude oil prices, which had surged from approximately USD 70 per barrel to around USD 122 per barrel over the month — an increase of nearly 75 per cent in under four weeks, driven by the ongoing conflict in West Asia and associated disruptions to global energy supply chains.
Consumer price index-based retail inflation rose 3.4 per cent in March compared to 3.21 per cent in the preceding month, mainly due to an uptick
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