New Delhi, Feb. 17 -- Inflation measured by the wholesale price index (WPI) rose to 1.81% in January, after remaining muted in the last six months, primarily due to an increase in prices of basic metals and other manufactured food and non-food articles and textiles, official data released by the commerce ministry showed on Monday. Wholesale price inflation was at 2.51% in January 2025. Since July last year, muted wholesale price situation had resulted in either deflation or less than 1% inflation. WPI inflation was at 0.83% for December, after two consecutive months of deflation in October and November. Inflation in primary articles comprising food items like cereals, paddy, wheat, vegetables, milk, eggs, meat and fish as well as minerals and crude oil, stood at 2.21% in January, slowing down from the 4.58% surge seen in January 2025. Primary articles have a weight of about 23% in the index. This segment had seen inflation of 0.21% in December 2025. Inflation in manufactured products, the largest group in the index, with a weight of over 64%, stood at 2.86% in January, up from 2.65% in the same period a year ago and 1.82% in December. Deflation in fuel and power category, comprising cooking gas, petrol and diesel, continued in January at 4%, compared to a deflation of in the same period a year ago and of 2.31% in December. Softer global energy prices and moderate electricity tariffs kept prices lower. RBI focuses on retail price inflation measured by the consumer price index (CPI) for monetary policy decisions, but inflation measured by the wholesale price index remaining benign would indicate that cost pressures for businesses remain under control, helping stabilise retail prices. RBI said earlier this month that food supply prospects remain bright on the back of healthy kharif production, sufficient buffer stocks of foodgrains, favourable rabi sowing and adequate reservoir levels....