Retail inflation for farm workers and rural labourers eases marginally in January
A labour ministry has said that retail inflation for farm workers and rural labourers eased marginally to 7.52 per cent and 7.37 per cent in January 2024 as compared to the previous month, mainly due to lower prices of certain food items. In December 2023, Consumer Price Index-Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL) and Consumer Price Index-Rural Labourers (CPI-RL) was 7.71 per cent and 7.46 per cent, respectively.
Food inflation stood at 9.67 per cent and 9.43 per cent in January 2024 as compared to 9.95 per cent and 9.80 per cent in December 2023 and 6.61 per cent and 6.47 per cent in the year-ago period. In January 2023, CPI-AL was 6.85 per cent and CPI-RL was 6.88 per cent.
The All-India CPI number for AL and RL for January 2024 increased by 1 point each to 1,258 and 1,268 points, respectively. The CPI-AL and CPI-RL were 1,257 and 1,267 points, respectively in December 2023. The major contribution towards rise in the general index of AL and RL came from miscellaneous groups to the extent of 1.57 and 1.55 points and fuel and light group to the extent of 1.16 and 1.10 points, respectively mainly due to increase in prices of medicines, doctors’ fees, barber charges, washing soap, cinema tickets, firewood, etc.