The Congress on Monday criticised the government over the latest Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation figures, accusing it of failing to address rising prices and the pressure they are placing on households. The party said the latest data showed that inflation remained elevated across key categories, including food and manufactured products. Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh targeted the government over the figures, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi kept saying that “everything is fine”, while the reality for people was that “everything is expensive”. His comments came after government data showed wholesale price-based inflation rising in August.

According to data released by the government on Monday, wholesale price-based inflation increased to 9.92 per cent in August from 9.78 per cent in July. The rise came as inflation remained high across several components of the wholesale price index. The latest figure adds to the concerns raised by the Opposition over the cost of goods and the impact of price pressures on consumers and businesses. WPI inflation tracks changes in the prices of goods at the wholesale level and includes major categories such as primary articles, fuel and power, and manufactured products. The Congress used the latest figures to argue that the government needed to pay greater attention to the cost pressures affecting households.

Food inflation also increased during the month. According to the government figures, food inflation rose to 7.05 per cent in August from 6.65 per cent in July. Food prices are closely watched because changes in the cost of essential items can directly affect household budgets, particularly for lower- and middle-income families. The increase in food inflation formed part of the Congress's criticism of the government's handling of prices. The party argued that rising costs were adding to the financial burden on families at a time when concerns over real wages and household purchasing power were also being raised.

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Inflation in manufactured products also increased, reaching 8.37 per cent in August compared with 8.29 per cent in July. The figure represented a series high, according to the data cited in the report. Manufactured products form a major component of the wholesale price index, meaning sustained increases in this category can influence overall wholesale price trends. The Congress pointed to the combination of higher food inflation and rising manufactured-product inflation as evidence of continued price pressures across the economy. The party's criticism focused on the gap between government messaging on economic conditions and what it described as the experience of ordinary households facing higher costs.

In his post on X, Ramesh said WPI inflation had remained around 10 per cent for four consecutive months. He alleged that the sustained rise in prices was causing hardship to millions of families and linked the inflation figures to concerns over falling real wages. Ramesh's comments were framed as a political criticism of the government's economic policies, with the Congress arguing that official claims of an improving economic situation did not adequately reflect the pressure created by rising prices. His remarks came shortly after the latest WPI figures were released and sought to make inflation a central issue in the party's attack on the government.

The latest data has therefore provided fresh ground for the Congress to question the government's approach to inflation and household economic pressures. Wholesale inflation rose from 9.78 per cent in July to 9.92 per cent in August, while food inflation increased from 6.65 per cent to 7.05 per cent and manufactured-product inflation climbed from 8.29 per cent to 8.37 per cent. The Congress has used these figures to argue that the cost-of-living pressures facing families remain significant. Ramesh's “everything is expensive” remark is part of that broader political attack, with the party demanding greater attention to prices and real wages while the government data provides the latest snapshot of wholesale inflation trends.

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