Reduction in retail inflation for farm, rural workers
Retail inflation for agricultural workers and rural laborers eased to 2.89 per cent and 3.16 per cent, respectively, in September, mainly due to lower prices of certain food items.
“The point-to-point rate of inflation based on CPI-AL (Consumer Price Index – Agricultural Laborers and CPI-RL (Consumer Price Index – Rural Laborers)) stood at 2.89 per cent and 3.16 per cent in September 2021 as compared to 3.90 per cent. percentage and 3.97 per cent respectively in August 2021,” the labor ministry said in a statement.
In September 2020, the inflation rate based on CPI-AL and CPI-RL stood at 6.25 per cent and 6.10 per cent, respectively.
Similarly, it said that food inflation based on CPI-AL and CPI-RL was 0.50 per cent and 0.70 per cent in September 2021, while it was 2.13 per cent and 2.32 per cent, respectively, in August 2021. The rates were 7.65. percentage and 7.61 per cent respectively during September 2020, the statement said.
The All India Consumer Price Index numbers for Agricultural Laborers (CPI-AL) and Rural Laborers (CPI-RL) for September 2021 rose by 1 point and 2 points to 1,067 and 1,076, respectively.
CPI-AL and CPI-RL stood at 1,066 marks and 1,074 marks respectively in August 2021.
The major contribution towards growth in the general index of agricultural laborers and rural laborers came from ‘fuel and light’ and ‘clothing, bedding and footwear’ to the extent of 1.93 points and 1.86 points and 0.75 points and 1.45 points respectively. The ministry said this is mainly due to increase in the prices of firewood, kerosene, shirting cloth cotton (mill), leather shoes/slippers and plastic shoes/slippers.
The rise/fall in the index varied from state to state. In the case of agricultural laborers, it registered a decrease of 1-17 points in 16 states and 1-10 points in four states. Karnataka tops the index table with 1,244 points; While Himachal Pradesh remained at the bottom with 856 marks.
In the case of rural laborers, 16 states have registered a decrease of 1-12 points and four states have a decrease of 1-8 points. Karnataka tops the index table with 1,239 points; Whereas Bihar remained at the bottom with 881 marks.
Principal Labor and Employment Adviser DPS Negi said that Himachal Pradesh (17 points and 12 points respectively) has shown the highest increase in the Consumer Price Index for agricultural and rural laborers among the states. This is mainly due to increase in prices of pulses, mustard oil, milk, vegetables and fruits, kerosene, shirting cloth cotton (mill), plastic slippers and bus fares.
In contrast, the biggest decline in the Consumer Price Index for agricultural laborers was experienced by Tamil Nadu (10 points) and for rural laborers by Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu (8 points each). This is mainly due to the fall in the prices of rice, jowar, bajra, ragi, tur dal, beef goat, onion, green chillies, tamarind, and vegetables and fruits.
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