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A labour ministry has said that retail inflation for farm and rural workers inched up to 7.43 per cent and 7.26 per cent in July 2023 as compared to 6.31 per cent and 6.16 per cent, respectively, in June 2023, mainly due to higher prices of certain food items. The All-India Consumer Price Index Number for Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL) and Rural Labourers (CPI-RL) for July 2023 increased by 19 points each to stand at 1,215 and 1,226 points, respectively. The CPI-AL and CPI-RL were 1,196 and 1,207 points, respectively, in June 2023. 

Similarly, it stated that food inflation stood at 8.88 per cent and 8.63 per cent in July 2023 compared to 7.03 per cent and 6.70 per cent, respectively, in June 2023 and 5.38 per cent and 5.44 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year. The major contribution towards the rise in general index of Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers came from food group to the extent of 18.23 and 18.28 points, respectively, mainly due to increase in prices of rice, wheat atta, pulses, milk, fish-fresh/dry, gur, chillies-green/dry, turmeric, garlic, ginger, onion, mixed spices, brinjal, tomato, gourd, etc.

In case of agricultural labour (AL), it recorded an increase of 1 to 29 points in 20 states. Tamil Nadu with 1,420 points topped the index table, whereas Himachal Pradesh with 932 points stood at the bottom. In case of rural labour (RL), it registered an increase of 9 to 28 points in 20 states. Tamil Nadu with 1,407 points topped the index table, whereas Himachal Pradesh with 993 points stood at the bottom.