Consumer price inflation for agricultural and rural labourers up at 3.92% and 4.09% in July

The numbers were 6.58 per cent and 6.53 per cent, respectively, during the corresponding month of the previous year. 

The All-India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers (Base: 1986-87=100) for July 2021 increased by 4 points and 5 points, respectively, to 1,061 and 1070 points, respectively.

Food inflation for July 2021 stood at 2.66 per cent and 2.74 per cent, respectively, in July 2021 against 2.67 per cent and 2.86 per cent, respectively, in June 2021 and 7.83 per cent and 7.89 per cent, respectively, during the corresponding month of the previous year.

The major contribution towards the rise in the general index of Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers came from food and miscellaneous group with 1.78  and 1.79 points and 1.30 and 1.31 points, respectively, mainly due to rise in prices of vegetables and fruits, onion, meat (goat), poultry, chillies (green), mustard oil, medicines, barber charges, bus-fare, washing soap etc.

Amongst states, the maximum increase in the consumer price index numbers for agricultural and rural labourers was reported from Punjab (13 points and 14 points, respectively). 

The maximum decrease in the consumer price index numbers for agricultural and rural labourers was reported from Tamil Nadu (7 points and 6 points, respectively).

The rise/fall in index varied from state to state. In the case of agricultural labourers, it recorded an increase of 1 to 13 points in 16 states and a decrease of 1 to 7 points in 3 states while it remained stationary for Assam. Tamil Nadu with 1,249 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with 829 points stood at the bottom.

In the case of rural labourers, it recorded an increase of 2 to 14 points in 15 states and a decrease of 1 to 6 points in 3 states while it remained stationary for Assam and Meghalaya. Tamil Nadu with 1,235 points topped the index table whereas Bihar with 868 points stood at the bottom.

Amongst states, the maximum increase in the Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural and Rural Labourers was experienced by Punjab (13 points and 14 points, respectively) mainly due to rise in the prices of wheat atta, vegetables and fruits, milk, onion, gur, shirting cloth cotton (mill), leather/plastic shoes etc. On the other hand, the maximum decrease in the Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural and Rural Labourers was experienced by Tamil Nadu (7 points and 6 points, respectively) mainly due to a fall in the prices of jowar, meat (goat), fish (fresh), onion, vegetables and fruits, pan-leaf, firewood etc.