ALL-INDIA CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBERS FOR AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL LABOURERS INCREASES BY 2 POINTS EACH

---

All-India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers on base 1986-87:100 for February 2003, when compared to January 2003 increased by 2 points each to stand at 322 (Three Hundred and Twenty Two) for Agricultural Labourers and 324(Three Hundred and Twenty Four) for Rural Labourers.

Rise/Fall in indices varied from State to State. In case of Agricultural Labourers, 11 States reflected increase ranging between 1 to 7 points, indices for 4 States showed decrease between 1 to 8 points and indices of five States remained constant. Tamil Nadu, with index at 355 points topped the index table whereas Orissa was at the bottom with index at 291 points.

In case of Rural labourers, 12 States reflected increase in indices between 1 to 6 points, 4 State showed decrease between 1 to 9 points and indices of 4 States remained constant. Tamil Nadu was at the top of Index Table with index at 352 points whereas Orissa was at the bottom with index at 291 points.

Bihar (including Jharkhand) experienced sharpest increase of 7 and 6 points for Agricultural labourers and Rural Labourers respectively. On the other hand, Tripura recorded maximum decrease of 8 and 9 points respectively for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers.

Point to point rate of inflation based on CPI-AL and CPI-RL increased from 3.90 % and 3.54 % respectively in January 2003 to 4.55 % and 4.18 % in February 2003. Respective rates of inflation during February 2002 were 3.01 % and 3.32 %.

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

Group	Agricultural Labourers		Rural Labourers
	January’03	February’03	January’03	February’03
General Index	320	322	322	324
Food	312	314	313	315
Pan, Supari, etc.	379	382	379	383
Fuel & Light	327	328	328	329
Clothing, Bedding & Footwear	338	338	347	348
Miscellaneous	332	333	332	333