Middle-class and poor families across the country are currently struggling under the weight of skyrocketing inflation. Managing basic kitchen expenses has become a major challenge for the general public.
According to data released on Thursday by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the country’s retail inflation rate rose to 6.09% in October, up from 5.5% in September. For the first time in two years, inflation has crossed the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) maximum tolerance limit of 6%, dealing a severe blow to the financial stability of ordinary citizens.
Statistics show that inflation had previously reached 6.21% in October 2024. Since dropping to 0.04% in October 2025, the consistent upward trend over the last 12 months has made daily life difficult. Specifically, the surge in food prices has hit household budgets hard. Food inflation rose to 8.9% in October, compared to 7.7% in September.
The price hikes for daily kitchen essentials have exceeded all limits. Government data shows that in October, the price of onions increased by 116%, while garlic rose by 61%, ginger by 48%, and lemons by 47%.
Among states with a population of over 50 lakh, Tamil Nadu recorded the highest retail inflation at 7.29%. This was followed by Telangana (7.26%), Andhra Pradesh (7.25%), Madhya Pradesh (7.19%), and Odisha (7.17%).
The RBI is responsible for keeping inflation limited to 4%, with a tolerance range of 2% to 6%. When inflation exceeds this limit, the central bank is forced to increase interest rates, which directly burdens citizens who have bank loans. Previously, on October 7, the Reserve Bank increased the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.5% after a gap of nearly four years. This was the central bank’s first rate hike since February 2023.
With the high cost of daily essentials on one hand and the fear of rising bank loan installments on the other, millions of families are facing an uncertain financial future.
