The headline inflation rate in India rose to 6.09% in October 2026 from 5.54% in the previous month, firmly above market expectations of 5.93%. With that, the rate crossed the Reserve Bank of India’s upper target threshold of 6% for the first time since October 2024. Food prices, which make up a large portion of the Indian consumer basket, rose by 8.94% annually, picking up from the 7.74% increase in the previous month. Inflation was also elevated for restaurants and accommodation (10.06%) and personal care, social protection, and miscellaneous goods (10.14%). Meanwhile, transportation inflation was at 5.84%, extending its reversal from lower levels earlier in the year as the surge in oil prices—a commodity that India imports in large quantities—lifted fuel costs for consumers. From the previous month, Indian consumer prices rose by 0.51%.