ALL-INDIA CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBERS FOR AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL LABOURERS ON BASE 1986-87 = 100 FOR MAY INCREASES BY ONE POINT EACH

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All-India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers on base 1986-87 = 100 for May, 2003 when compared to April, 2003 increased by 1 point each to stand at 327 (Three hundred and twenty seven) for Agricultural Labourers and 329 (Three hundred and twenty nine) for Rural Labourers.

Rise/Fall in indices varied from State to State. In case of Agricultural Labourers, 14 States reflected increase ranging between 1 to 7 points, indices of 5 States showed decrease between 2 to 6 points and index of 1 State remained constant . Tamil Nadu, with index at 359 points topped the index table whereas Bihar (including Jharkhand) was at the bottom with index at 300 points.

In case of Rural Labourers, 14 States reflected increase in indices between 1 to 7 points. 5 States showed decrease between 2 to 5 points and index of 1 State remained constant. Tamil Nadu was at the top of index table with index at 356 points whereas Bihar was at the bottom with index at 302 points.

Meghalaya experienced sharpest increase of 7 points each for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers. On the other hand, Himachal Pradesh recorded maximum decrease of 6 and 5 points for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers respectively.

Point to point rate of inflation based on CPI-AL and CPI-RL decreased from 5.50% and 5.13% respectively in April, 2003 to 5.14% and 5.11% in May, 2003. Respective rates of inflation during May, 2002 were 2.64% and 2.29%.

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

Group	Agricultural Labourers		Rural Labourers
	April 2003	May 2003	April 2003	May 2003
General Index	326	327	328	329
Food	319	312	320	322
Pan, Supari, etc.	382	382	383	383
Fuel & Light	327	330	328	330
Clothing, Bedding And Footwear	340	342	350	351
Miscellaneous	335	336	335	336