Hyderabad: Telangana achieved the distinction of recording one of the lowest inflation rates among major states in December 2024, according to data released by the Union ministry of statistics and programme implementation on Monday. The state's retail price inflation, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), dropped below four per cent to 3.14 per cent, significantly lower than the national average of 5.22 per cent.
When compared with all states, Telangana's inflation stood as the second-lowest in the country, trailing only Delhi, which recorded an inflation rate of 2.51 per cent. Urban inflation in Telangana was slightly higher at 3.20 per cent compared to rural inflation at 3.13 per cent, yet both figures were well below the national urban and rural inflation rates of 5.76 per cent and 4.58 per cent, respectively.
India's overall retail inflation cooled to a four-month low of 5.22 per cent in December, down from 5.48 per cent in November, driven by a decline in food prices. Only two states, Delhi and Telangana, managed to keep their inflation below four per cent, with all other states reporting higher figures.
Among neighbouring states, Andhra Pradesh registered an inflation rate of 4.34 per cent. Chhattisgarh recorded the highest inflation in the country at 7.63 per cent, followed by Bihar (7.36 per cent), Odisha (6.96 per cent), Kerala (6.36 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (6.26 per cent), Haryana (6.08 per cent), and Uttarakhand (6.05 per cent).
Official sources credited the Congress-led Telangana government's welfare initiatives for the state's commendable inflation performance. Schemes such as free bus travel for women, subsidised LPG cylinders at `500, free electricity to nearly 50 lakh households, and enhanced health coverage under Arogyasri — raising the limit from `5 lakh to `10 lakh — have reportedly contributed to reducing the cost burden on households.
Additionally, Telangana's robust agricultural output, including rice and pulses, has been highlighted as a key factor in stabilising food prices.
This marks a stark contrast to the inflation trends during the previous BRS regime, which saw the state grappling with some of the highest inflation rates in the country. Inflation under the BRS government ranged from 10 per cent in June 2022 to 8.5 per cent in August 2023.
