New Delhi, June 15 -- India's wholesale inflation rose sharply to 9.68 per cent in May 2026 from 8.26 per cent in April, according to provisional Wholesale Price Index (WPI) data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The surge was driven primarily by rising energy costs amid the ongoing West Asia crisis.

Energy Prices Lead the Rise

The Fuel and Power group, which accounts for 14.11 per cent of the WPI basket, recorded inflation of 30.33 per cent in May, up from 24.89 per cent in April.

Within the group, crude petroleum and natural gas prices surged 61.51 per cent year-on-year, while mineral oils rose 49.82 per cent - a sharp reversal from deflationary readings as recently as February 2026.

Electricity prices continued to...