India: Retail inflation for farm, rural workers eases in Dec on lower food prices

Retail inflation for farm and rural workers eased to 3.25 per cent and 3.34 per cent, respectively, in December, mainly due to lower prices of certain food items. According to the statement, inflation based on the food index of CPI-AL and CPI-RL is at (+) 2.97 per cent and (+) 2.96 per cent, respectively, in December 2020. Among states, the maximum decrease in the consumer price index numbers for agricultural labourers and rural workers was experienced by Gujarat and West Bengal (-20 points each) mainly due to the fall in prices of gur, onion, green chillies, vegetables and fruits etc. On the contrary, the maximum increase in the consumer price index numbers for agricultural labourers and rural workers was experienced by Meghalaya (+2 points and +3 points, respectively) following the rise in prices of pulses, mustard oil, fish dry, vegetables and fruits, firewood, plastic shoes and bus fare etc. The fall or rise in the index varied from state to state. In the case of agricultural ...