India's Retail Inflation Rises to 5.54% in September 2026, Highest of the Year, as Food Prices Surge

India's retail inflation rose to 5.54 per cent in September 2026, the highest level recorded this year, driven by a spike in food inflation to 7.74 per cent. Onion prices surged over 108 per cent year-on-year, while ginger and garlic also recorded elevated inflation. Rural inflation outpaced urban inflation, and Tamil Nadu led all major states with headline inflation of 6.81 per cent. The data was released by MoSPI, with the next CPI reading scheduled for November 12.