State Inflation in India: Meaning, Latest Data & State-Wise Breakdown (2025-26)
Inflation affects everyone’s wallet – from groceries to fuel, transport to schooling. But inflation isn’t uniform across India. Some states face higher price increases, while others stay relatively stable.
What Is Inflation?
Inflation is the increase in prices over time. When inflation rises:
- ₹100 buys less than before
- Costs for essentials like food, fuel, and services increase
India uses the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to measure this. CPI tracks price changes of a “basket” of everyday goods and services. It’s the most widely accepted measure of retail inflation.
Latest National CPI Inflation (Dec 2025)
According to the latest data:
- India’s CPI inflation was ~1.33% in December 2025 (YoY) – up from 0.71% in November 2025.
- This rate remains well below the Reserve Bank of India’s target range of 2–6%.
This means price rises at the national level are relatively moderate – but regional variations can still be large.
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What Is State Inflation?
State inflation is the CPI inflation calculated separately for each Indian state and Union Territory (UT). Because prices for food, housing, and transport vary locally, inflation often differs widely across regions.
State inflation data is published monthly by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) and summarized in official CPI releases.
State-Wise Inflation Highlights (Latest Trends)
Note: Exact state figures vary month-to-month depending on the CPI release. The data below is based on the most recent available regional CPI trends and third-party aggregation sources.
Kerala – Relatively High Inflation
- Known for higher food and services price growth compared with many states.
- In most recent CPI summaries, Kerala stands among the states with higher inflation, often above national averages.
Why Kerala’s inflation is higher:
- Cost pressures in food items and urban services
- Greater weight of housing and utilities in urban baskets
Telangana – Low Inflation Region
- Telangana often reports among the lowest inflation rates nationally.
- Other reports show Telangana’s inflation as low as ~2.2–2.3%.
Possible reasons:
- Better food price control and supply
- Stable rice and staple production
Delhi – Lower Inflation Urban Centre
- Delhi has recorded some of the lowest state inflation figures, close to ~2.0%.
- Lower inflation in many categories, especially food and services
Bihar Inflation Cools Sharply (Latest Trend: ~0.01%)
Bihar has seen a sharp decline in inflation, with the latest CPI trend showing inflation close to 0.01%, indicating near-zero year-on-year price growth.
This marks a clear shift from earlier months, when Bihar experienced higher inflation driven by food prices.
Why Bihar’s Inflation Has Fallen So Much
The recent cooldown is mainly due to:
- Strong food price deflation, especially in cereals and vegetables
- Improved supply conditions and better market arrivals
- A favourable base effect compared to the previous year
Since food carries a high weight in India’s CPI basket, falling food prices have pulled Bihar’s overall inflation rate sharply lower.
What This Means for Bihar Residents
- Minimal increase in cost of living
- Stable prices for daily essentials
- Less pressure on household budgets compared to high-inflation states
Important context:
Bihar’s inflation was higher earlier in 2025, but the latest CPI data shows a clear reversal, highlighting why state-level inflation must always be read month by month, not as a fixed number.
Goa – Higher Than Average
- Goa reported elevated overall inflation in some recent trends – often due to higher food and services demand.
Multi-State Comparison (Typical Range)
| State / Union Territory | Approx. Inflation Trend (Recent Reports) |
|---|---|
| Kerala | High (~5–9% in mid-2025 CPI summaries) |
| Goa | Higher (~5–6% mid-2025) |
| Punjab | Mid range (~4.6%) |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Mid range (~4.5%) |
| Telangana | Low (~2.2%) |
| Delhi | Low (~2.0%) |
| Jharkhand | Moderate (~2.5%) |
| West Bengal | Moderate (~3.4%) |
| Bihar | Very Low (~0.01%) |
These figures are approximate and represent recent published state trends where CPI inflation data exists publicly. For exact month-to-month percentages, the official MoSPI CPI dashboard or data portal should be consulted.
Why State Inflation Differs
Inflation varies across states because of:
Food Price Differences
Food makes up a large part of CPI, especially in rural parts of India. Seasonal supply shocks and logistics can cause big swings.
Transport & Logistics
Remote regions face higher transport costs, raising retail prices for essentials.
Urbanization Effects
Urban centres may see stronger inflation in housing and services compared to rural areas.
How This Affects You
- Consumers: Higher inflation in your state means higher cost of living.
- Businesses: Price setting and wage demands adjust based on regional inflation.
- Policymakers: State inflation influences local budget decisions and food subsidy planning.
Where to Find Up-to-Date State Inflation Numbers
For real monthly figures by state:
- MoSPI CPI Portal: cpi.mospi.gov.in – official CPI inflation tables by state.
- Open Government Data (OGD) Platform: India data portal has downloadable CPI datasets by state.
These official sources provide detailed tables of CPI inflation for all 28 states and 8 UTs.
Key Takeaways
- National CPI inflation in India is currently moderate (~1.3% Dec 2025).
- State inflation varies widely across regions due to food prices, transport, and urbanization.
- Some states like Kerala and Goa often show higher inflation, while Telangana and Delhi show lower numbers.
- Check official MoSPI CPI releases for precise monthly state percentages.
FAQs
Q. What is CPI inflation?
CPI inflation is the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index – a measure of how much prices of goods and services bought by households increase over time.
Q. Why does Telangana have low inflation?
Lower food price volatility and stable supply chains help Telangana show comparatively lower CPI inflation.
Q. How often is inflation data updated?
MoSPI updates inflation data monthly.
