Retail Inflation Edges Up to 1.33% in December

• Dec 2025 retail inflation hits 3-month high of 1.33% due to pricier essentials.
• Food inflation remains negative for 7th month, at -2.71%, up from November.
• RBI's lower tolerance limit was met for the 4th consecutive month in December.

New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) Retail inflation rose to a three-month high of 1.33 per cent in December 2025 mainly due to higher prices of kitchen essentials, including vegetables and protein-rich items.

The

inflation was at 0.71 per cent in November. The previous high was 1.44 per cent in September.

The food inflation, based on Consumer Price Index (CPI), remained negative for the seventh consecutive month at (-) 2.71 per cent, though up from (-) 3.91 per cent in November.

"The increase in headline inflation and food inflation during the month of December, 2025 is mainly attributed to increase in inflation of personal care and effects, vegetables, meat and fish, egg, spices and pulses and products," National Statistics Office (NSO) said while releasing the CPI data.

Retail remained below the Reserve Bank of India's lower tolerance limit for the fourth consecutive month in December.

The government has mandated the central bank to ensure inflation remains at 4 per cent with a margin of 2 per cent on either side. PTI NKD CS NKD TRB

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