Retail inflation for farm and rural workers eases in February

Inflation eased due to decrease in prices of food items

Retail inflation for farm workers and rural labourers eased to 8.14% and 8.27% respectively in February from 9.08% and 9.21% in January mainly due to decrease in prices of food items.

"Point to point rate of inflation based on the CPI-AL and CPI-RL decreased from 9.08% and 9.21% in January, 2014 to 8.14% and 8.27% in February, 2014," said a press release.

It said the inflation based on food index of Consumer Price Index-Agriculture Labourers (CPI-AL) and Consumer Price Index-Rural Labourers (CPI-RL) were at 6.85% and 6.99% respectively during February.

The all India CPI-AL and CPI-RL for February, 2014 remained stationary to stand at 757 points and 759 points respectively.

In case of farm workers, it recorded an increase between 2 to 9 points in 11 states and a decrease between 1 to 9 points in 8 States. The index however, remained stationary in one state. Haryana with 843 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with the index level of 623 points stood at the bottom.

In case of rural workers, the index recorded an increase between 1 to 7 points in 12 States, and a decrease between one to 8 points in 8 states. Haryana with 836 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh State with the index level of 656 points stood at the bottom.

The indices for farm and rural labourers in respect of Rajasthan registered maximum increase of 9 points and 7 points respectively.

This was mainly due to increase in prices of wheat, bajra, pulses, gingely oil, milk, ghee, vegetables & fruits, sugar, dhoti (cotton mill), plastic shoes and toilet soap.

The index numbers for farm and rural workers in respect of Andhra Pradesh registered maximum decrease of 9 points and 8 points respectively mainly due to decrease in the prices of rice, jowar, ragi, groundnut oil, onion, vegetable & fruits, sugar and firewood.