Odisha records one of the lowest inflation rates in June

Kendrapada: Odisha recorded one of the lowest inflation rates in the country in June 2025, with rural inflation at 0.46% and urban inflation at 0.64%, well below the national averages of 1.72% and 2.56%, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from the ministry of statistics and programme implementation (MoSPI).The figures were shared by B L Verma, minister of state for consumer affairs, food and public distribution, in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. He was replying to a query from BJD MP Manas Ranjan Mangaraj, noting that the department monitors daily prices of 38 essential food commodities. Price data is collected from 566 monitoring centres nationwide, including 28 in the state.Verma said prices of essential food items remain stable and under control. He highlighted the price stabilisation fund (PSF) scheme, launched in 2014-15 to shield consumers from extreme volatility in agri-horticultural commodity prices and ensure affordability.In 2018–19, the Centre approved the state govt's proposal to create a Rs 100 crore state-level price stabilisation fund, releasing Rs 25 crore as the first instalment of the Centre's share. The fund is meant to manage price swings in pulses, onions and potatoes.Govt tracks availability and pricing of essential commodities through regular reviews by the inter-ministerial committee (IMC), which assesses trends and recommends measures such as boosting domestic production and increasing imports. To curb volatility, buffer stocks of pulses and onions are maintained under the PSF and released strategically to stabilise prices.During 2023-24 and 2024-25, pulses from the buffer stock were processed into dal and sold under the Bharat Dal brand at affordable prices. Similarly, atta and rice are being distributed under the Bharat brand at subsidised rates. To check onion prices, buffer stocks were released from Sept to Dec 2024, with onions sold at Rs 35 per kg through retail outlets and mobile vans in major consumption centres.

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