Retail Inflation Hits 2.75% in January Under New CPI Series: What Got More Expensive?

• India's retail inflation for January reached 2.75% under the new Consumer Price Index (CPI) series, a significant change from the old base.
• The new CPI series, with a base year of 2024, marks the first major revision in over a decade, expanding the basket to over 350 items.
• Food and beverage weightage dropped below 40% for the first time, while non-food categories now account for over 60%.
• Food inflation was 2.13%, with tomato prices soaring by 64.8%; personal care, including silver jewelry (160%) and gold (47%), saw high inflation.
• New items like wireless earphones, pet food, and fitness bands are included, reflecting evolving consumption patterns and increased health awareness.