Vegetable inflation jumps to 4.3% in May, threatens grocery basket as monsoon falters

India's vegetable inflation climbed to 4.3% in May with 8 of 17 items in double-digit territory, led by tomatoes. A 43.2% rainfall deficit, heatwaves and El Niño risk signal further pressure on food retail margins and household grocery spend in the near term.

— Filed Tue, 23 Jun, 2026, 22:09 IST · Source The Hindu BusinessLine · Updated

Vegetable inflation jumped to 4.3% in May with 8 of 17 items in double-digit territory, led by tomatoes. Below-normal monsoon, heatwaves and El Niño risk threaten further price pressure on grocery and food retail in India.