Price index up by four points

Shimla, Nov 20 (UNI) The All-India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers (Base:1986-87=100) for October, 2008 increased by four points each to stand at 459 points for both the series.

The rise and fall in index varied from state to state. In the case of Agricultural Labourers, 12 state reflected an increase in the index ranging between one and four points; six states between five and eight points; the index of one state remained constant while one state reflected a fall of two points.

Punjab with 497 points topped the index table whereas Manipur was at the bottom with the index level of 399 points.

In the case of Rural Labourers, the increase in the index ranged between one and four points in 13 states; between five and eight points in six state and the index of one state reflected a fall of one point.

Punjab with 496 points topped the index table whereas Manipur was at the bottom with the index level of 100 points.

The Consumer Price Index Numbers of Andhara Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerla for Agricultural Labourers and Ahdhra Pradesh and Karnataka for Rural Labourers registered the highest increase of eight points each mainly due to increase in the prices of rice, jowar, ragi, arhar dal, goat meat, beef, milk, chillies green/dry, vegetable and fruits, tea redymade/tea leaf, tobacco leaf, bidi and firewood.

On the other hand, the index of Uttar Pradesh recorded a fall of two points and one point respectively for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers mainly due to decrease in the prices of rice, wheat atta, mustard oil, goat meat and vegetable and fruits.

Point to point rate of inflation based on the CPI-AL and CPI-RL increased from 10.98 per cent during September, 2008 to 11.14 per cent each in October, 2008. Respective rates of inflation during October, 2007 were 6.99 per cent and 6.72 per cent.

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