September’s CPI hit 5.54%, and the real story? Price hikes are now spreading across 129 of 358 tracked items; nearly double what it was in January. That’s not noise. That’s generalisation. The RBI already warned: inflation expectations are rising. And when prices don’t just jump in one category but ripple across your entire monthly budget; from groceries to services to household goods; that’s when rates usually follow. Most economists now expect another 50-75 basis points in hikes over the next 4-6 months. If your EMIs or loan EMI is on your mind, this is the signal you didn’t see coming. Inflation’s quiet invasion? It’s here. And it’s costlier than you think.