Consumer price inflation for agricultural and rural labourers down at 5.24% and 5.49% in March

Consumer price inflation for agricultural and rural labourers based on the consumer price index for agricultural and rural labourers (CPI-AL and CPI-RL) in the country decreased to 5.24 per cent and 5.49 per cent, respectively, in March 2015 from 6.08 per cent and 6.19 per cent, respectively, in February 2015.

Inflation based on food price index for agricultural and rural labourers stood at 4.05 per cent and 4.31 per cent, respectively, during March 2015.

The all-India consumer price index (Base: 1986-87=100) for agricultural and rural labourers remained stationary during March 2015.

The rise or fall in index varied from state to state. In case of agricultural labourers, it recorded an increase between 1 and 9 points in 13 states and a decrease between 1 and 6 points in seven states.

Haryana with 902 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with the index level of 664 points stood at the bottom.

In case of rural labourers, it recorded an increase between 1 and 10 points in 13 states and a decrease between 1 and 6 points in seven states.

Haryana with 898 points topped the index table here again while Himachal Pradesh with the index level of 695 points stood at the bottom.

Consumer price index numbers for agricultural labourers in respect of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal registered the maximum decrease of 6 points each while, in the case of rural labourers, West Bengal registered the maximum decrease of 6 points due to decrease in the prices of rice, wheat atta, onion and vegetables and fruits.

The index numbers for agricultural labourers for Tripura registered the maximum increase of 9 points while Jammu and Kashmir registered the maximum increase of 10 points in the case of rural labourers, mainly due to increase in the prices of maize, bread, pulses, meat goat, vegetables and fruits and knitted garment wool.