New CPI Series: Govt to Release January Inflation Data Thursday, Includes Airfares, OTT

• Government to release January retail inflation data based on the new Consumer Price Index (CPI) series on Thursday.
• The new CPI series (base year 2024) will include price movements in airfares, e-commerce platforms, and OTT channel subscriptions.
• It will cover 358 items, up from 299 in the 2012 series, with data collected from 1,465 rural and 1,395 urban markets.
• The National Statistics Organisation (NSO) is revising base years for GDP, IIP, and CPI for enhanced relevance and accuracy.
• RBI awaits the new CPI series for inflation projections and monetary policy framing.