Retail inflation rate came down to 3.34 percent in March

16-Apr-2025 03:45 PM

New Delhi. Retail inflation in India dropped to 3.34 percent in March 2025, marking the lowest level in six years. The decline was largely driven by falling prices of vegetables and protein-rich food items.

In comparison, the Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation was 3.61 percent in February 2025 and 4.85 percent in March 2024. The last time inflation was this low was in August 2019, at 3.28 percent.

Food inflation, a key component of CPI, eased to 2.69 percent in March from 3.75 percent in February. It had peaked at 8.52 percent in March 2024. Products with the highest inflation in March 2025 compared to a year ago included coconut oil (56.81%), whole coconut (42.05%), gold (34.09%), silver (31.57%), and grapes (25.55%).

Conversely, the steepest price declines were seen in ginger (-38.11%), tomato (-34.96%), cauliflower (-25.99%), cumin (-25.86%), and garlic (-25.22%).

According to the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation, rural areas experienced a notable drop in both headline and food inflation.

Rural CPI fell from 3.79 percent in February to 3.25 percent in March, while rural food inflation dropped from 4.06 percent to 2.82 percent. However, inflation rose slightly in urban areas during the same period.