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What is the difference between WPI and CPI inflation?

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Inflation is a general and sustained increase in overall price level of goods and services. The inflation rate is a key parameter basis which central government proposes its monetary and fiscal policy from time to time.

 

The monetary policy primarily focuses on price stability and hence its concern for inflation is rather obvious.

 
What is the difference between WPI and CPI inflation?

Indicators of Measure of Inflation

Whole-sale price index (WPI) and Consumer price index (CPI) are the two primary measures of inflation. Before, proceeding to know the difference between the two index measures for inflation, let us understand what an index signifies?

An index figure reflects the change in a set of associated variables over a time period and in a particular direction.

Thus, price index is reflective of the total change in price level paid by a producer or consumer.

In the Indian context, 5 national indices are accounted for inflation measure that include WPI and other four CPI indices.

WPI index reflects average price changes of goods that are bought and sold in the wholesale market. WPI in India is published by the Office of Economic Adviser, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Further, the data for WPI is monitored and updated on a weekly basis taking into account all the items that form the index.

The various commodities taken into consideration for computing the WPI can be categorized into primary article, fuel and power, and manufactured goods.

Primary articles included for the computation of WPI include food articles, non-food articles and minerals.

What is the difference between inflation and hyperinflation?What is the difference between inflation and hyperinflation?

In the fuel, power, light and lubricants, electricity, coal mining and mineral oil are included.

The manufactured goods category encompasses food products; beverages, tobacco,and tobacco products; wood and wood products, textiles; paper and paper products; basic metals and alloys; rubber and rubber products and many others.

An, important point to take note of is the whole sale price index (WPI) does not includes the cost of services.

Further, as WPI accounts for changes in general price level of goods at wholesale level, it fails to communicate actual burden borne by the end consumer.

WPI is the primary measure that is used by the Indian central government for ascertaining inflation as WPI in contrast to CPI accounts for changes in price at an early distribution stage.WPI index in fact includes all transactions at first point of bulk sale in the domestic market. Provisional WPI for all of the commodities is released on 14th of every month (the next working day, if 14th of the month is a national holiday). The base year for the WPI index has been revised for the seventh time from the earlier 2004-2005 to 2011-12 to better capture changes in the economy.

List of commodities in the all India WPI index and also the associated weightages have been revised; at present the different categories included primary articles, fuel and power and manufactured products bear 22.62%, 13.15% and 64.23% weightage. With 102 items in the primary articles, 19 in fuel and power and 555 in manufactured products that cover primarily all items transacted in the Indian economy.

In contrast, CPI is computed by executing a weighted average on a particular set of goods and services that are acquired by household for general consumption such as food, telecom, transportation, medical care amongst many others.

The computation of CPI takes into account price changes and the actual inflation that affects the end consumer.

CPI is thus a reflection of changes in the retail prices of specified goods and services over a time period which are traded by particular consumer group.

What is CPI inflation?

The abbreviation of CPI is Consumer Price Index which tells or estimates differences in the cost level of consumer goods and services and which is purchased by households. Inflation means the sustained increase in the overall level of price in a given period. Another price index method is the WPI (Whole Sale Price Index) that is prevalent in India. It is an index that measures and tracks the changes in the price of goods in the stages before the retail level. Wholesale price indexes report monthly to show the average price changes of goods sold in bulk, and they are a group of the indicators that follow growth in the economy. WPI includes all the manufactured products and CPI includes food and services part. The calculation involved in CPI is done thorough and various categories and sub category on consumption items basis of consumers like urban and rural. The overall index of price is calculated mostly by national statistical agencies. It is one of the most important statistics for an economy and is usually based on the weighted average of the prices of commodities. It gives an idea of the cost of living.

Does RBI use WPI or CPI Inflation to manage monetary policy?

While earlier the Reserve Bank of India used WPI inflation to manage monetary policy expectations, it is now the CPI inflation which is largely taken into account. The RBI highlights its inflation expectations based on the CPI inflation data that comes in. For example, it sets targets on CPI Inflation and monitors it accordingly.

Many analysts for long had suggested that the RBI should move to the CPI data vs the WPI data, which had now happened in the last couple of years.

WPI Inflation Vs CPI Inflation: Which should you keep in mind?

For the common man it is always better to keep retail inflation which is the CPI or the Comsumer Price Inflation number in mind. It is a better measurement of what is largely happening with consumer prices. WPI inflation on the other hand is better known to individuals who track the wholesale prices and is of better significance to them. In any case both are a measure of inflation.

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