Food prices push retail inflation for farm and rural workers

Retail inflation rates for farm and rural workers increased marginally to 8.44% and 8.72%, respectively, in April after prices of food items and fuel rose.

"Point to point rate of inflation based on the CPI-AL and CPI-RL increased from 8.38% and 8.51% in March to 8.44% and 8.72% in April," the Labour Ministry said in a press release.

Inflation based on the food index of the Consumer Price Index-Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL) and Consumer Price Index-Rural Labourers (CPI-RL) was at 8.06% and 8.03%, respectively, in April, according to the release.

The all India CPI-AL and CPI-RL for April 2014 increased by 8 points each to 771 points and 773 points, respectively.

The rise in the index varied from state to state. In the case of agricultural labourers, it recorded an increase of between 4 and 14 points in all the 20 states. Haryana with 852 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with the index level of 637 points stood at the bottom.

For rural labourers, the increase was between 4 and 15 points in all the 20 states. Haryana with 845 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with the index level of 673 points stood at the bottom.

West Bengal registered the maximum increase in both categories mainly due to an increase in the prices of rice, pulses, mustard oil, fish fresh, chillies green, vegetables and fruits and firewood.