LUCKNOW, Oct. 14 -- UP Congress president Aradhna Mishra on Tuesday said the government's economic policies should be judged by their impact on people's lives, not merely by claims of development. Citing the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on October 12, Mishra said retail inflation stood at 5.54% nationally in September 2026, while food inflation was 7.74%. In UP, retail inflation was 6.08% and rural inflation 6.71%, she said. "Inflation has dealt a severe blow to household budgets, and rising prices of essential kitchen commodities are adding to families' hardships. Managing household expenses during Dussehra and Diwali will become increasingly difficult," she said. htc...