Consumer price inflation for agricultural and rural labourers rose to 4.78% and 5.03% in December 21

Consumer price inflation for agricultural and rural labourers was 3.25 per cent and 3.34 percent, respectively, during the corresponding month of the previous year.

Similarly, food price inflation for the groups stood at 2.99 per cent and 3.17 per cent in December 2021 compared to 0.88 per cent and 1.07 per cent, respectively, in November 2021 and 2.97 per cent and 2.96 per cent, respectively, during the corresponding month of the previous year.

The major contribution towards the rise in general index of agricultural and rural labourers came from `fuel and light’ group and miscellaneous group to the extent of 1.72 and 1.58 points and 1.02 and 1.06 points, respectively, mainly due to rise in prices of firewood, kerosene, medicine,  barber charges, bus fare, toilet soap, washing soap, etc.

The rise/fall in index varied from state to state. In case of agricultural labourers, it recorded an increase of 1 to 20 points in 11 states and a decrease of 1 to 12 points in 8 states while it remained stationary in Orissa. Tamilnadu with 1,290 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with 861 points stood at the bottom.

In the case of rural labourers, it recorded an increase of 1 to 20 points in 11 states and a decrease of 1 to 14 points in 8 states while it remained stationary in Orissa. Tamilnadu with 1,276 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with 915 points stood at the bottom.

Amongst states, the maximum increase in the consumer price inflation for agricultural and rural labourers was reported from Tamilnadu (20 points each), mainly due to rise in the prices of vegetables and fruits, onion, chillies green/dry, tamarind, etc. On the contrary, the maximum decrease in the consumer price inflation was reported from Himachal Pradesh (12 points and 14 points respectively), mainly due to fall in the prices of wheat atta, pulses, onion, vegetables and fruits etc.