Ministry of Labour and Employment on Thursday released the All-India Consumer Price Index Number for Agricultural and Rural Labourers for the month of March 2022. The index increased by 3 points each to stand at 1098 and 1109 points respectively.
The major contribution towards the rise in the general index of Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers came from the clothing, bedding, and footwear group to the extent of 1.09 & 1.44 points.
The increase was mainly due to the increase in prices of saree cotton (mill), dhoti cotton (mill), shirting cloth cotton (mill), plastic and leather chappal and shoes, etc
Statewise Fluctuations
The rise and fall in the index varied from State to State. In the case of Agricultural Labourers, it recorded an increase of 1 to 10 points in 16 States and a decrease of 2 to 10 points in 4 States.
Tamil Nadu with 1282 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with 876 points stood at the bottom.
In the case of Rural Labourers, it recorded an increase of 2 to 10 points in 16 States and a decrease of 3 to 10 points in 4 States.
Tamil Nadu with 1270 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with 926 points stood at the bottom.
Amongst states, the maximum increase in the Consumer Price Index Number for Agricultural Labourers was experienced by Maharashtra State and for Rural Labourers by Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra & Rajasthan States (10 points each) mainly due to a rise in the prices of wheat-atta, bajra, meat-goat, milk, groundnut oil, chilies green/dry, saree cotton (mill), dhoti cotton (mill), shirting cloth cotton (mill), plastic chappal/shoes, brass vessel, earthen-ware, etc.
On the contrary, the maximum decrease in the Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers was experienced by Tamil Nadu and for Rural Labourers by Karnataka (10 points each) mainly due to falling in the prices of rice, jowar, ragi, pulses, pan-leaf, fish fresh, onion, vegetables & fruits, etc.
Point to point rate of inflation based on the CPI-AL and CPI-RL stood at 6.09% & 6.33% in March 2022 compared to 5.59% & 5.94% respectively in February 2022 and 2.78% and 2.96% respectively during the corresponding month of the previous year.
Similarly, the Food inflation stood at 4.91% & 4.88% in March 2022 compared to 4.48% & 4.45% respectively in February 2022 and 1.66% & 1.86% respectively during the corresponding month of the previous year.