Retail Inflation For Farm, Rural Workers Dips In May: Labour Ministry

The point-to-point rate of inflation, based on the consumer price index-agricultural labourers (CPI-AL) and rural labourers (CPI-RL), stood at 6.50 per cent and 6.52 per cent in April 2023

Retail inflation for farm workers and rural labourers saw a decline to 5.99 per cent and 5.84 per cent, respectively, in May, according to the labour bureau of the Ministry of Labour and Employment. The point-to-point rate of inflation, based on the consumer price index-agricultural labourers (CPI-AL) and rural labourers (CPI-RL), stood at 6.50 per cent and 6.52 per cent in April 2023, and 6.67 per cent and 7.00 pe rcent, respectively, during the same month in the previous year, as reported by the ministry.

According to the data published on Wednesday, the food inflation stood at 6.31 per cent and 6.07 per cent in May 2023 compared to 6.67 per cent and 6.52 per cent respectively in April 2023 and 5.44 per cent and 5.51 per cent respectively during the corresponding month of the previous year.

The All-India Consumer Price Index Number for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers for the month of May 2023 increased by 6 and 5 points to stand at 1186 points and 1197 points respectively. The CPI-AL and CPI-RL were 1180 points and 1192 points respectively in April 2023. The food group made a significant contribution to the overall increase in the general index of Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers, with a rise of 5.29 and 4.72 points respectively, driven by higher prices of rice, pulses, milk, goat meat, dry chilies, garlic, ginger, vegetables, and fruits.

The index movement varied across different states. Among agricultural labourers, 11 states witnessed an increase of 2 to 17 points, while 8 states saw a decrease of 1 to 5 points, and Himachal Pradesh remained unchanged.

Tamil Nadu secured the top position on the index table with 1371 points, whereas Himachal Pradesh stood at the bottom with 918 points.

For Rural Labourers, the index showed an increase of 1 to 17 points in 12 states, a decrease of 1 to 5 points in 7 states, and no change in Kerala. Tamil Nadu claimed the top spot on the index table with 1360 points, while Himachal Pradesh had the lowest score of 968 points.

Among the states, Andhra Pradesh experienced the highest increase in the Consumer Price Index Numbers for both Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers, with a rise of 17 points each. This increase can be attributed to the higher prices of rice, jowar, ragi, pulses, green/dry chilies, onion, vegetables, and fruits, among others.

In contrast, Assam witnessed the maximum decrease of 5 points in the Consumer Price Index Numbers for agricultural labourers, while Odisha saw the same decrease for rural labourers. This decrease was primarily driven by the fall in prices of rice, ragi, mustard oil, fresh fish, onion, and green chilies.