The headline inflation rate in India rose to 5.54% in September 2026 from 4.83% in the previous month, the highest since October 2024 and ahead of market expectations of 5.4%. It was the 11th straight month of rising inflation in the economy, approaching the Reserve Bank of India's upper tolerance limit of 6% as adverse weather and geopolitical shocks to oil prices lifted the costs of major products in the Indian consumer basket. Food costs were 5.97% higher year-on-year, with onion prices more than doubling while ginger (62.9%) and garlic (54.6%) also increased sharply. Meanwhile, higher oil prices and a weakening rupee drove transportation inflation to 5.01%. Price growth was also high for restaurants and accommodation (9.36%) and personal care and social protection (13.75%). Month-on-month, the Indian CPI rose by 0.69%.