The latest update on inflation in India, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for December 2024, reveals a year-on-year inflation rate of 5.22% with distinct variances across different sectors and items:
General Year-on-Year Inflation: December 2024 saw a general inflation rate of 5.22% which is lesser than 5.48% we saw in previous month November & even same Month December last year 5.69%π.
Food Price Inflation: The Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) showed higher inflation at 8.39% year-on-year, indicating a significant rise in food prices compared to other categories π². But still it is lesser for the 2nd consecutive month as during November it was 9.04% and even last year December it was 9.53%.
Peas (Vegetables): The highest inflation at 89.12% π₯¦
Potato: Substantial increase at 68.23% π₯
Garlic: Significant rise at 58.17% π§
Coconut Oil: Sharp rise at 45.41% π₯₯
Cauliflower: Notable increase at 39.42% π₯¦
Jeera: Decrease in prices at -34.69% πΏ
Ginger: Price drop at -22.93% πΏ
Dry Chillies: Lower prices at -10.32% πΆοΈ
LPG (excl. conveyance): Slight decrease at -9.29% π₯
Agriculture and Food Processing: The significant inflation in vegetable prices, particularly peas, potatoes, and garlic, suggests increased costs for the food processing industry, potentially leading to higher retail prices for processed food products π₯π.
Consumer Goods: High inflation in items like coconut oil directly impacts the FMCG sector, increasing production costs for goods that use these items as raw materials π.
Energy and Utilities: The decrease in LPG prices could marginally relieve households and businesses reliant on LPG for energy, albeit not significantly impacting the broader energy sector π₯β.
Increased Cost of Production: Companies in the agriculture, food processing, and consumer goods sectors might face higher production costs due to increased raw material prices, which could squeeze profit margins if not passed on to consumers πΈ.
Demand Elasticity: For essential goods with high price increases (like food items), demand may remain relatively inelastic. However, discretionary items or alternatives to products like coconut oil might see a shift in consumer preference due to price rises π.
Supply Chain Considerations: Companies reliant on specific agricultural products that have seen significant price increases may need to reassess their supply chains or hedge against price volatility ππ.
This analysis provides a snapshot of inflation dynamics and their potential impacts on various sectors and company operations within the Indian economy as of the end of 2025.