Retail inflation for farm, rural workers soften in Dec

Retail inflation for farm workers and rural labourers fell to 11.19% and 11.18% respectively in December due to easing of food prices.

     

The respective rates of price rise were 13.43% and 13.27% in November last year.

     

The overall Consumer Price Index-Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL) and Consumer Price Index-Rural Labourers (CPI-RL) came down to 765 points and 766 points, respectively, in December from a level of 777 points for both in November, an official release said.

      

Inflation based on food index of CPI-AL and CPI-RL are 11.57% and 11.23% respectively during December, 2013, the release said.

      

The overall food inflation index for farm and rural workers came down to 752 points and 753 points in December from the levels of 771 points and 772 points respectively in November last year.

     

The retail inflation index for farm and rural workers in respect of Punjab registered the maximum decrease of 27 and 24 points respectively mainly due to fall in prices of rice, gram dal, onion, ginger, vegetables & fruits and gur.

     

The fall and rise in index varied from state to state. Haryana with 841 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with the index level of 622 points stood at the bottom, the release said.

 

The index numbers for farm and rural labourers registered the maximum increase of 6 and 5 points respectively in Kerala mainly due to increase in the prices of wheat atta, tapioca, pulses, coconut oil, onion, vegetables & fruits, fish fresh, tamarind and tea readymade.