By Vineet Kumar 
Retail Inflation Reaches 14-Month High at 6.2% in October: Here’s What’s Cooking in Your Kitchen and Wallet
Retail inflation in India has climbed to a 14-month peak, landing at 6.2% in October, up from September’s 5.5%. Rising food costs are largely behind this surge, with vegetable prices in particular driving food inflation to double digits for the first time in over a year.
1. Why Inflation is Getting Hot in the Kitchen
October’s inflation spike may have left you raising an eyebrow while grocery shopping. Vegetables, especially tomatoes, onions, garlic, and potatoes, are clocking eye-watering price hikes—161.3% for tomatoes, for example. If you noticed that cooking up a simple curry costs nearly double what it did last month, that’s the impact right there. Garlic is up by 82.5%, potatoes by 64.9%, and onions by 51.8%. Just a regular grocery list is starting to feel like a luxury item list!
2. The Ripple Effect: Oil Prices Turn Up the Heat
Adding to the budget blues, refined oil prices increased 10.4% after the government raised customs duty, making even staple coconut oil a pricier ingredient at 34.5%. The shock to cooking oil prices this month has turned even a humble stir-fry into a pricey endeavor for many households.
3. Is There Any Relief in Sight?
Not all food prices are climbing the inflation mountain. Pulses saw a price drop, easing to a 17-month low of 7.4%, and rice inflation has also fallen to a 26-month low. For those who favor dal and rice over veggie-heavy dishes, this could be a slight reprieve.
4. What’s Next? Looking Ahead
Economists are predicting inflation will stay elevated in November, though the pace might slow if vegetable prices ease off. But with food costs expected to remain higher than the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) target, it’s likely that the RBI will hold its policy rates steady once again in December.
5. Real-Life Impact: The Toll on Households
If you’re feeling the pinch at the grocery store, you’re not alone. Higher inflation means families have to juggle budgets, trim non-essentials, or shift toward less pricey ingredients. For the average household, monthly budgets will be more challenging to manage, with savings taking a hit and everyday meals becoming noticeably more costly.
This rise in inflation shows how even small shifts in the economy impact real life—like the humble tomato or cooking oil suddenly becoming a luxury. So, as inflation continues to hover, every shopping trip becomes a balancing act to keep our
meals affordable and nutritious.