ALL INDIA CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBERS FOR AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL LABOURERS FOR MARCH,2003 INCREASES BY TWO POINTS

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All India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers on base 1986-87=100 for April, 2003 when compared to March, 2003 increased by 2 points each to stand at 3.26 (Three hundred and twenty six) for agricultural labourers and 328 (Three hundrend and twenty eight) for Rural Labourers.

Rise/fall indices varied from state to state. In case of Agricultural labourers, 16 states reflected increase ranging between 1 to 5 points, indices of 2 states showed decrease between 1 to 7 points and indices of 2 states remained constant. Tamil Nadu with index at 358 points topped the index table whereas Orissa was at the bottom with index at 297 points.

In case of Rural Labourers, 17 states reflected increase in indices between 1 to 6 points, 2 states showed decrease between 1 to 9 points and index of 1 state remained constant. Tamil Nadu was at the top of index table with index at 355 points whereas Orissa was at the bottom with index at 297 points.

Assam and Himachal Pradesh experienced sharpest increase of 5 points each for Agricultural labourers whereas for rural labourers Himachal Pradesh experienced sharpest increase of 6 points. On the other hand, Tripura recorded maximum decrease of 7 and 9 points for agricultural labourers and rural labourers respectively.

Point to point rate of inflation based on CPI-AL and CPI-RL increased from 4.85% and 4.82% respectively in March, 2003 to 5.50% and 5.13% in April, 2003. Respective rates of inflation during April, 2002 were 2.66 % and 2.97%.

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

Group	Agricultural Labourers Rural Labourers
	March 2003	April 2003	March 2003	April 2003
General Index	324	326	326	328
Food	318	319	318	320
Pan, Supari etc	381	382	382	383
Fuel & Light	328	327	329	328
Clothing, Bedding And Footwear	339	340	349	350
Miscellaneous	334	335	334	335