Retail inflation rises on costlier food

Retail inflation for farm and rural labourers rose to 8.38 per cent and 8.51 per cent in March mainly on account of high prices of food items.
The rates of price rise for farm and rural labourers were at 8.14 per cent and 8.27 per cent, respectively, in February.
"Point to point rate of inflation based on the a Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL) and Rural Labourers (CPI-RL) increased from 8.14 per cent and 8.27 per cent in February to 8.38 per cent and 8.51 per cent in March," an official press release said.
Inflation based on food indices of CPI-AL and CPI-RL are 7.55 per cent and 7.53 per cent respectively during March last year.

The CPI-AL and CPI-RL for March increased by 6 points each to stand at 763 points and 765 points respectively. In case of farm workers, the index recorded an increase between 1 to 17 points in 19 states and a decrease of 4 points in one state.
Haryana with 847 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with the index level of 629 points stood at the bottom.
In case of rural workers, the index recorded an increase between 1 to 15 points in 19 states and a decrease of 4 points in one state. Haryana with 840 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh State with the index level of 663 points stood at the bottom.

The index farm and rural workers in respect of Tripura registered the maximum increase of 17 points and 15 points respectively mainly due to increase in the prices of pulses, mustard oil, fish fresh/dry, eggs, milk, mixed spices, vegetables & fruits, sugar, supari, dhoti cotton mill, saree cotton mill and barber charges.