India’s Retail Inflation Edges Up To 3.93% In May; Food, Jewellery Drive Rise

New Delhi, Jun 13 (KNN) India's retail inflation rose to 3.93 per cent in May 2026 from 3.48 per cent in April, according to provisional Consumer Price Index (CPI) data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on Friday. 

Rural inflation stood at 4.25 per cent and urban inflation at 3.53 per cent. Food inflation, measured by the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI), rose to 4.78 per cent from 4.20 per cent the previous month.

Jewellery Prices Lead the Surge

The personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods category recorded the sharpest divisional inflation at 18.46 per cent, driven almost entirely by precious metals. Within this group, ‘other personal effects’ — dominated by gold and silver jewellery — saw inflation surge to 56.35 per cent. 

Silver jewellery inflation alone climbed to 155.23 per cent from 144.36 per cent in April, while gold, diamond and platinum jewellery inflation stood at 40.93 per cent. By contrast, everyday personal care items such as toiletries rose a modest 2.44 per cent.

Vegetables Pull Food Inflation in Both Directions

The food and beverages division recorded inflation of 4.55 per cent, with tomato prices the standout driver — inflation jumped to 48.43 per cent from 35.26 per cent in April — while ginger prices more than doubled to 32.49 per cent. Raisins also saw elevated inflation of 21.97 per cent.

Providing some offset, potato prices remained in deep deflation at -23.71 per cent, and pea prices saw deflation widen sharply to -11.47 per cent from -6.54 per cent in April.

Dining Out and Tobacco Costs Climb

Restaurants and accommodation services recorded inflation of 5.75 per cent, with food and beverage serving services rising 5.77 per cent — considerably faster than accommodation costs, which rose 1.76 per cent. 

The paan, tobacco and intoxicants division saw inflation of 4.83 per cent, with urban paan and tobacco inflation at 8.22 per cent against 5.96 per cent in rural areas.

Transport: Falling Vehicle Prices, Rising Freight Costs

Transport inflation remained subdued overall at 1.75 per cent, but masked a sharp internal divergence. Transport services for goods rose 7.63 per cent on elevated freight costs, while vehicle purchase prices fell 4.79 per cent. Motor cars and jeeps were down 7.19 per cent and motorcycles and scooters down 3.56 per cent.

Housing, Health and Technology Remain Stable

Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels recorded the lowest inflation among major divisions at 1.73 per cent, with electricity and gas rising just 0.81 per cent. 

Health sector inflation stood at 1.49 per cent, with medicines rising 1.54 per cent. Information and communication recorded the lowest inflation of any division at 0.30 per cent, reflecting continued price stability in technology and connectivity.

Education inflation stood at 2.99 per cent overall, though higher education showed sharp urban-rural divergence — 4.77 per cent in urban areas against 1.56 per cent in rural areas. 

Clothing and footwear rose 2.98 per cent, while furnishings and household equipment rose 1.89 per cent and recreation, sport and culture rose 1.98 per cent.

(KNN Bureau)