CPI registers increase in February

Shimla, Mar 20 (UNI) The All India Consumer Price Index (CPI) for agricultural labourers increased by one point and by two points for rural labourers to stand at 392 and 303 respectively in February.

The Labour Bureau sources said the increase and decrease in the indices varied from state to state.

In the case of agricultural labourers, the indices showed an increase of one to six points in 16 states and one to two points in four states.

The sources said Punjab with 423 points topped the table, while Manipur with 332 points was at the bottom.

In case of rural labourers, the indices showed an increase of one to five points in 15 states, one to two points in four states and remained stationary in one state, the source said.

Punjab was at the top of the index table with 424 points, while Manipur was at the bottom with 332 points.

The Rajasthan centre experienced the highest increase of six and five points for agricultural labourers and rural labourers due to increase in the prices of wheat, wheat atta, jowar, maize, moong dal, groundnut oil, milk, ghee, onion chillies, green vegetables and fruits, bidi and Anacin.

On the other hand, Orissa and West Bengal centres, for agricultural labouers, and Manipur and West Bengal centres, for rural labourers, recorded the maximum decrease of two points each due to decrease in the prices of wheat atta, fresh fish, turmeric, vegetable and fruits, the sources said.

The point-to-point rate of inflation, based on CPI agricultural labourers and CPI rural labourers, increased from 9.52 per cent and 8.91 per cent during January to 9.80 per cent and 9.47 per cent respectively during February this fiscal.

The respective rates of inflation during the corresponding period last year were 5 per cent and 4.66 per cent, the sources added.

UNI