Consumer price inflation for agricultural and rural workers down despite price rise

Consumer price inflation for agricultural and rural workers declined marginally to 12.8 per cent and 12.61 per cent, respectively, in July, despite high prices of food items and clothing.

The annual rate of inflation based on consumer price index for agricultural and rural labourers, (CPI-AL) and (CPI-RL), decreased from 12.85 per cent and 12.65 per cent in June to 12.80 per cent and 12.61 per cent in July,'' the labour ministry stated in a release.

The All-India consumer price index numbers for agricultural and rural labourers (Base: 1986-87=100) increased by 11 points each to 740 points for agricultural labourers and  741 points  for rural labourers, the ministry's data showed.

However, inflation rate based on food prices for agriculture and rural labourers stood at 13.84 per cent and 13.80 per cent, respectively.

The rise in index varied from state to state. In case of farm workers, the index recorded an increase that varied between 4 to 18 points in various states. Karnataka with 822 points topped the index table, whereas Himachal Pradesh with the index level of 583 points was at the bottom.

In case of rural workers, the index recorded an increase between 3 and 19 points in all states. Karnataka with 818 points topped the index table whereas Tripura with the index level of 616 points stood at the bottom.

Orissa and Tripura recorded the maximum increase of 18 points each for agricultural labourers, while Tripura recorded the maximum increase of 19 points for rural labourers.

This was mainly due to increase in the prices of rice, wheat atta, meat goat, pork, poultry, fish fresh, milk, onion, chillies green, vegetables and fruits, tea (readymade), pan leaf, dhoti (cotton-mill-made), shirting cloth (cotton) and leather chappals.