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The labour ministry has said that point-to-point rate of inflation based on the Consumer Price Index-Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL) and  Consumer Price Index-Rural Labourers (CPI-RL) eased to 2.89 percent and 3.16 percent in September 2021 compared to 3.90 percent and 3.97 percent respectively in August 2021, mainly due to lower prices of certain food items. It said the inflation rates based on CPI-AL and CPI-RL had stood at 6.25 percent and 6.10 percent, respectively, in September 2020.

Similarly, the ministry stated that the food inflation based on CPI-AL and CPI-RL stood at 0.50 per cent and 0.70 percent in September 2021, compared with 2.13 percent and 2.32 per cent respectively in August 2021. The rates had stood at 7.65 percent and 7.61 percent, respectively, during September 2020. The All-India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL) and Rural Labourers (CPI-RL) for September 2021 increased by 1 point and 2 points to stand at 1,067 and 1,076 points, respectively. CPI-AL and CPI-RL were 1,066 points and 1,074 points, respectively, in August 2021.

It further stated that the major contribution towards the rise in the general index of agricultural labourers and rural labourers came from 'fuel and light' and 'clothing, bedding and footwear' to the extent of 1.93 points and 1.86 points and 0.75 points and 1.45 points, respectively. This is mainly due to a rise in prices of firewood, kerosene oil, shirting cloth cotton (mill), leather shoes/chappal, and plastic shoes/chappal.