ALL INDIA CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS INCREASES BUT REMAINS STATIONERY FOR RURAL LABOURERS

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The All-India Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers (Base 1986-87 = 100) during March, 2002 increased by one point over the previous month’s level to stand at 308 but for Rural Labourers the index remained stationery at 311.

In case of Agricultural Labourers, 12 states reflected an increase in indices between 1 to 4 points and 5 States showed decrease in indices between 1 to 3 points while the indices remained constant in 3 states.

In the case of Rural Labourers, 13 states reflected increase in indices between 1 to 4 points and 5 states showed decrease in indices between 1 to 2 points while the indices remained constant in 2 states.

Amongst states, Meghlaya and Tripura in respect of Agricultural Labourers ad Tripura in respect of Rural Labourers experienced sharpest increase of 4 points each. On the other hand, Himachal Pradesh recorded maximum decrease of 3 and 2 points for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers respectively.

Meghalaya continued to figure at the top of the index table for both Agricultural and Rural Labourers with 354 and 350 points respectively whereas Orissa remained at the bottom with 287 points for both the series.

Point to point rate of inflation based on CPI-AL decreased from 3.01 % in February, 2002 to 3.00% in March 2002. In case of the CPI-RL the inflation rate decreased from 3.32% in the previous month to 2.98 % during March, 2002. Respective rates of inflation during March, 2001 were (-) 1.96 % and (-) 1.63 %.

All-India Consumer Price Index (General & Group-wise)

GROUP	Agricultural Labourers		Rural Labourers
	February, 2002	March,2002	February,2002	March, 2002
General Index	308	309	311	311
Food	300	300	301	301
Pan, Supari etc	368	368	369	369
Fuel & Light	312	313	313	314
Clothing, Bedding & Footwear	329	329	338	338
Miscellaneous	323	324	324	324