Retail inflation for farm workers, rural labourers inch up in June
Retail inflation for farm workers and rural labourers inched up marginally to 6.31 per cent and 6.16 per cent, respectively in June 2023 as compared to 5.99 per cent and 5.84 per cent in May this year. Point-to-point rate of inflation based on CPI-AL (consumer price index agricultural labour) and CPI-RL (rural labour) for June 2023 increased by 10 points each to 1,196 points and 1,207 points, respectively. CPI-AL and CPI-RL were 1,186 points and 1,197 points in May 2023.
Similarly, food inflation stood at 7.03 per cent and 6.70 per cent in June, compared to 6.31 per cent and 6.07 per cent in May and 5.09 per cent and 5.16 per cent in the year-ago period. The major contribution towards the rise in general index of AL and RL came from food group to the extent of 9.59 points and 8.96 points, respectively mainly due to increase in prices of rice, pulses, milk, meat goat, fish-fresh/dry, gur, chillies-green/dry, garlic, ginger, onion, vegetables & fruits, etc. The rise/fall in index varied from state to state.
In case of agricultural labour (AL), it recorded an increase of 2-20 points in 17 states and a decrease of 4 points in Himachal Pradesh and 18 points in Jammu & Kashmir while it remained stationary for Kerala. Tamil Nadu with 1,391 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with 914 points stood at the bottom. In case of rural labour (RL), it recorded an increase of 1-20 points in 18 states and a decrease of 2 points in Rajasthan and 16 points in Jammu & Kashmir. Tamil Nadu with 1,379 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with 973 points stood at the bottom.
