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The labour ministry has said that retail inflation for farm and rural workers rose to 6.85 per cent and 6.88 per cent, respectively, in January 2023, mainly due to higher prices of certain food items. In January last year, the inflation numbers for farm and rural workers was at 5.49 per cent and 5.74 per cent, respectively.

It stated ‘Point to point rate of inflation based on the CPI-AL (Consumer Price Index Agricultural Labourers) and CPI-RL (Rural Labourers) stood at 6.85 per cent & 6.88 per cent in January 2023 compared to 6.38 per cent & 6.60 per cent, respectively in December 2022 and 5.49 per cent’.  It mentioned Food inflation rose to 6.61 per cent and 6.47 per cent, respectively, last month from 5.89 per cent and 5.76 per cent, respectively, in December 2022. For farm and rural workers, the food inflation stood at 4.15 per cent and 4.33 per cent, respectively, in January last year.

Moreover, it stated, in January, the CPI-AL and CPI-RL increased by 3 and 2 points to stand at 1,170 and 1,181 points, respectively, compared to December last year. Among the states, the maximum increase in the CPI-AL was in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu and in the case of rural workers, the highest print was in Tamil Nadu. This was mainly on account of a rise in the prices of wheat-atta, jowar, bajra, onion, vegetables and fruits, and firewood. On the contrary, the maximum decrease in the CPI-AL and CPI-RL was experienced in Assam, primarily due to a fall in the prices of rice, fish-fresh, chillies green, vegetables and fruits, among others.