The All-India consumer price index number for agricultural labourers (base: 1986-87=100) for January, 2008 remained stationary at 413 points while it increased by 1 point to stand at 414 points for rural labourers.

The rise / fall in index varied from state to state. In the case of agricultural labourers, 9 states reflected an increase in index ranging between 1 and 5 points; in 10 states the declining trend in index ranged between 1 and 9 points while in Haryana, the index remained constant.

Haryana with 441 points topped the index table whereas Manipur was at the bottom with the index level of 366 points.

The index figures for rural labourers, in nine states, reflected an increase ranging between 1 and 4 points; in another nine states the declining trend in index ranged between 1 and 9 points whereas in two the index remained constant.

Haryana and Punjab were at the top of the index table with 439 points each whereas Manipur was at the bottom with 367 points.

The consumer price index number of Kerala for Agricultural Labourers registered the highest increase of 5 points whereas in the case of Rural Labourers Kerala, Manipur and Rajasthan experienced the highest increase of 4 points each mainly due to increase in the prices of rice, wheat atta, fish fresh / dry, milk, mustard oil, gingelly oil, pan leaf, firewood and cinema ticket.

On the other hand, the indices in respect of Tripura registered the highest fall of 9 points each for agricultural labourers and rural labourers mainly due to decrease in the prices of rice, mustard oil, poultry, fish fresh, onion and vegetables and fruits.

Point to point rate of inflation based on the CPI-AL decreased from 5.90 per cent during December, 2007 to 5.63 per cent in January, 2008 whereas it increased from 5.63 per cent during December, 2007 to 5.88 per cent in January, 2008 for rural labourers. Respective rates of inflation during January, 2007 were 9.52 per cent and 8.91 per cent.