On Monday, September 14, the Congress party criticized the government over the latest Wholesale Price Index data, arguing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s repeated assurances that “sab changa si” (everything is fine) contrast with the reality of rising prices.
The government released its August WPI figures on the same day, showing inflation at 9.92%, up from 9.78% in July. Food prices climbed to 7.05% from 6.65%, while manufactured goods hit a series high of 8.37% compared to 8.29% in July. Fuel and power also contributed to the overall increase.
In a post on X, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, highlighted that WPI inflation has hovered around 10% for four consecutive months. He added that “prices of all essential commodities have continued their upward rise causing huge hardships to crores of families.” Ramesh also cited CMIE data showing a 5.7% decline in inflation‑adjusted wages since April, with rural wages falling 9% even in nominal terms.
The party also noted that the government plans to replace the WPI with a Producer Price Index, with a new series launching on 15 June. Ramesh attributed the sustained rise in WPI to the West Asia war and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has pushed up global crude oil and fertilizer costs, spilling over into food prices.
