IGI Logo

A labour bureau statement has said that retail inflation for farm and rural labourers increased to 6.09 per cent and 6.33 per cent, respectively, in March 2022 mainly due to higher prices of certain food items and clothing. It noted that point to point rate of inflation based on the CPI-AL (consumer price index-agricultural labourers) and CPI-RL (consumer price index rural labourers) stood at 6.09 per cent and 6.33 per cent in March 2022, compared to 5.59 per cent & 5.94 per cent, respectively, in February 2022, and 2.78 per cent and 2.96 per cent, respectively, during the corresponding month (March 2021) of the previous year. 

Similarly, it stated that the food inflation stood at 4.91 per cent and 4.88 per cent in March 2022, compared to 4.48 per cent and 4.45 per cent, respectively, in February 2022, and 1.66 per cent and 1.86 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year (March 2021). The All-India Consumer Price Index Number for agricultural and rural labourers for March 2022 increased by 3 points each to stand at 1,098 and 1,109 points, respectively. The CPI-AL and CPI-RL were 1,095 points and 1,106 points in February 2022.

It further said the major contribution towards the rise in the general index of agricultural labourers and rural labourers came from the clothing, bedding and footwear group to the extent of 1.09 and 1.44 points, respectively, mainly due to the increase in prices of saree cotton (mill), dhoti cotton (mill), shirting cloth cotton (mill), plastic chappal/ shoes, leather chappal/shoes, etc. The rise/fall in the index varied from state to state. In the case of agricultural labourers, it recorded an increase of 1 to 10 points in 16 states and a decrease of 2 to 10 points in 4 states.