Consumer Price Index down by one point

Shimla, Jan 18 (UNI) The All-India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers on base: 1986-87=100 decreased by one point each to stand at 413 points in December as compared to the previous month, sources in the Labour Department said today.

The fall in the index varied from state to state.

The sources said the indices in respect of Agricultural Labourers registered an increase between one to five points in six states, decreased between two to nine points in 11 states, while remaining stationary in three other states.

Haryana with 441 points topped the table, whereas Manipur was at the bottom with 362 points.

In case of Rural Labourers, the indices increased between one and six points in six states, decreased by two to seven points in 11 states and remained stationary in three other states, the sources said.

Haryana was again at the top of the index table with 439 points, while Manipur was at the bottom with 363 points.

The Consumer Price Index Numbers of Kerala for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers registered the highest increase of five and six points respectively due to increase in the prices of rice, coconut oil, milk, onion, tea readymade, saltish refreshment, pan leaf and hair oil.

The indices in respect of Himachal Pradesh registered a fall of nine to seven points for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers respectively due to decrease in the prices of rice, wheat atta, milk, onion, vegetables and fruits, sugar and gur.

The point to point rate of inflation based on the CPI-AL and CPI-RL decreased from 6.15 per cent and 5.88 per cent during November to 5.90 per cent and 5.63 per cent respectively during December.

The sources said the respective rates of inflation during the same period were 8.94 points and 8.31 points respectively.

UNI XC AS PS BP1814