New Delhi, Aug 20 (KNN) Retail inflation for agricultural and rural labourers rose marginally to 3.92 per cent and 4.09 per cent in July compared to the previous month, said the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Retail inflation for agricultural and rural labourers in June stood at 3.83 per cent and 4 per cent, respectively.

"Point-to-point rate of inflation based on the Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL) and Consumer Price Index for Rural Labourers (CPI-RL) stood at 3.92 per cent and 4.09 per cent in July 2021, compared to 3.83 per cent and 4 per cent, respectively, in June 2021," the labour ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

It added that the inflation based on CPI-AL and CPI-RL during July 2020 had stood at 6.58 per cent and 6.53 per cent, respectively.

Food inflation for agricultural and rural labourers stood at 2.66 per cent 2.74 per cent in July 2021 compared to 2.67 per cent and 2.86 per cent, respectively, in June 2021. Food inflation had stood at 7.83 per cent and 7.89 per cent, respectively, during the corresponding month of the previous year.

All-India CPI-AL and CPI-RL for July 2021 rose four points and five points to stand at 1,061 points and 1,070 points, respectively, as compared to June 2021.

The major contribution towards the rise in general index of Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers came from food and Miscellaneous group with 1.78 & 1.79 points and 1.30 & 1.31 points respectively mainly due to rise in prices of vegetables & fruits, onion, meat goat, poultry, chillies-green, mustard oil, medicines, barber charges, bus-fare, washing soap etc.

The rise/fall in the index varied from State to State.

In case of Agricultural Labourers, it recorded an increase of 1 to 13 points in 16 states and a decrease of 1 to 7 points in 3 states while it remained stationary for Assam state. Tamil Nadu with 1249 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with 829 points stood at the bottom.

In case of Rural Labourers, it recorded an increase of 2 to 14 points in 15 states and a decrease of 1 to 6 points in 3 states while it remained stationary for Assam & Meghalaya states. Tamil Nadu with 1235 points topped the index table whereas Bihar with 868 points stood at the bottom.

Amongst states, the maximum increase in the Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural and Rural Labourers was experienced by Punjab State (13 points & 14 points respectively) mainly due to rise in the prices of wheat atta, vegetables & fruits, milk, onion, gur, shirting cloth cotton (mill), leather/plastic shoes etc.

On the contrary, the maximum decrease in the Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural and Rural Labourers was experienced by Tamilnadu State (7 points and 6 points respectively) mainly due to fall in the prices of jowar, meat goat, fish-fresh, onion, vegetables and fruits, pan-leaf, firewood etc.