Retail inflation eases marginally for farm, rural workers in September

The All-India CPI Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers for September 2020 increased by 11 points and 10 points to stand at 1,037 and 1,043 point, respectively, the statement added. The major contribution towards the rise in general index of farm workers and rural labourers came from food, with (+) 9.20 points and (+) 8.95 points, respectively mainly due to rise in prices of arhar dal, masur dal, ground nut oil, mustard oil, vegetables and fruits etc.

The retail inflation for farm workers and rural laborers eased only marginally to 6.25 percent and 6.1 percent, respectively in September as food prices remained high. The retail inflation for farm workers and rural laborers is measured in terms of Consumer Price Index-Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL) and Consumer Price Index-Rural Labourers (CPI-RL). The point-to-point rate of inflation based on CPI-AL and CPI-RL decreased to 6.25 percent and 6.10 percent in September from 6.32 percent and 6.28 percent, respectively in August, a labor ministry statement said. The rise in index varied from state to state. In the case of agricultural laborers, it recorded an increase of 1-23 points in 20 states, it said.

Tamil Nadu with 1,234 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with 816 points stood at the bottom. In the case of rural workers, it recorded an increase of 2-20 points in 20 states. Tamil Nadu with 1,218 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with 863 points was at the bottom.

The maximum increase in CPI numbers for agricultural laborers was experienced by Himachal Pradesh (+23 points) and in the case of rural laborers, it was Jammu & Kashmir (+20 points) mainly due to a rise in prices of wheat-atta, pulses, mustard-oil, milk, onion, chilies-dry, garlic, ginger, barber charges, bus fare, vegetables, and fruits, etc. The All-India CPI Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers for September 2020 increased by 11 points and 10 points to stand at 1,037 and 1,043 points, respectively, the statement added.

The major contribution towards the rise in the general index of farmworkers and rural laborers came from food, with (+) 9.20 points and (+) 8.95 points, respectively mainly due to the rise in prices of arhar dal, masoor dal, groundnut oil, mustard oil, vegetables, and fruits, etc. "The easing of inflation successively for eight months will definitely improve the income of millions of workers in rural areas by putting the lesser burden on their daily budgetary requirement," the statement quoted Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar as saying.