CPI for agricultural and rural labourers up 0.36 percentage points in January

The inflation rate based on the consumer price index for agricultural and rural labourers - CPI-AL and CPI-RL - increased from 17.21 per cent and 16.99 per cent in December 2009 to 17.57 per cent and 17.35 per cent, respectively, in January 2010.

Consumer price inflation for the two groups stood at 11.62 per cent and 11.35 per cent, respectively, during January 2009, an official release said.
 
The all-India consumer price index numbers for agricultural and rural labourers (base: 1986-87=100) increased four points each to 542 points and 541 points, respectively, in January 2010, from the previous month, ie, December 2009.

The rise or fall in the index varied from state to state. In the case of agricultural labourers, the index recorded an increase between 1 and 20 points in 15 states; it remained constant in two states and it recorded a decline between 4 and 12 points in three states. 

Haryana with 613 points topped the index table whereas Manipur with the index level of 458 points stood at the bottom.

In the case of rural labourers, the index recorded an increase of 1 to 19 points in 14 states while it remained constant in one state and recorded a decline of 1 to 10 points in five states.

Punjab, with 607 points, topped the index table whereas Manipur with the index level of 459 points stood at the bottom.

In Haryana, the consumer price index for agricultural and rural labourers registered the highest increase of 20 and 19 points, respectively, mainly due to increase in the prices of rice, wheat atta, bajra atta, milk, onion, turmeric, sugar, gur, firewood and shirting cloth. On the other hand, CPI in Meghalaya registered the maximum fall of 12 and 10 points, respectively, mainly due to decrease in the prices of vegetables and fruits.