---
title: "Wholesale Price Index (WPI): India's Measure"
description: "The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) tracks bulk-trade price changes in India, excluding services—unlike the CPI that RBI targets. See how its 2011-12 base works."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/wholesale-price-index"
---

[New](https://modeldiplomat.com/)

#

Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The Wholesale Price Index measures the average change in prices of goods traded in bulk at the first point of bulk transaction in an economy.
- Why does India target CPI rather than WPI for monetary policy?
- How can WPI inflation be negative while CPI inflation stays high?
- What is the current base year of India's WPI and who maintains it?
- Will WPI be replaced by a Producer Price Index?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

The Wholesale Price Index measures the average change in prices of goods traded in bulk at the first point of bulk transaction in an economy.

Go beyond the definition

## Research Wholesale Price Index (WPI) like a delegate

Model Diplomat's AI drafts position papers, speeches, and country research with real sources — built for MUN and politics students.

## Research it like a delegate

Research on modeldiplomat.com

## Ask a follow-up about Wholesale Price Index (WPI)

Open a cited briefing in Model Diplomat search — timelines, positions, and sources you can use in committee or exam answers.

[Start research on Wholesale Price Index (WPI)](https://modeldiplomat.com/search?q=Explain%20Wholesale%20Price%20Index%20\(WPI\)%20%E2%80%94%20key%20dates%2C%20actors%2C%20positions%2C%20and%20sources)

Example

In May 2022, India's Office of the Economic Adviser reported WPI inflation near 16 percent—a record high—as the Russia-Ukraine war pushed up fuel and metal prices, squeezing manufacturers' input costs.

Keep learning

## Go deeper than the definition

[Explore all Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams lessons](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services)[Test yourself with a quiz](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/quiz/civil-services)

## Take Wholesale Price Index (WPI) beyond the glossary

Ask the AI research engine built for diplomacy — get briefings, position papers, and speeches with sources you can cite in committee.