The All-India Consumer Price Index for Agricultural and Rural Labourers (Base 1986-87 = 100) increased during May 2004. The index for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers increased by 3 points each over the previous month’s level to stand at 336 and 338 respectively.

In the case of Agricultural Labourers, 18 states reflected an increase in indices ranging between 1 to 6 points and two states showed decrease in indices between 1 to 3 points.

In the case of Rural Labourers, 17 states reflected increase in indices ranging between 1 to 6 points and in one state indices decreased by one point while the indices remained constant in two states.

Among the states, Haryana experienced sharpest increase of 6 points each for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers. The increase has been mainly due to rise in prices of wheat, atta, milk, ghee, vegetables & fruits and firewood. On the other hand, Jammu & Kashmir recorded a maximum decrease of 3 points in respect of Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers mainly due to decrease in prices of wheat, atta, mustard oil, onions and vegetables & fruits.

Andhra Pradesh and Meghalaya with 352 points each figured at the top of the index table for Agricultural Labourers and Andhra Pradesh with 353 points topped in case of Rural Labourers whereas Manipur remained at the bottom in case of both Agricultural and Rural Labourers with 311 points and 312 points respectively.

Point to point rate of inflation based on CPI-AL and CPI-RL decreased marginally by 0.01 percentage point in June 2004 to stand at 1.82% and 1.81% respectively as compared to previous month. Respective rates of inflation during June 2003 were 5.10 % and 4.73 %.