Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The year-on-year inflation rates based on the all-India consumer price index for agricultural labourers (CPI-AL) and rural labourers (CPI-RL) for December 2025 have been estimated at 0.04 per cent and 0.11 per cent, respectively, figures released by the Ministry of Labour & Employment on January 21, data showed.
The food inflation for agricultural and rural labourers stayed in the negative — (-) 1.8 per cent and (-) 1.73 per cent. respectively — as prices of food items fell during the month due to increased production.
The decline in the inflation rate in recent months is a welcome relief for these vulnerable segments that are hit hardest by spiralling prices. It also leaves more money in their hands to buy a wider range of goods, leading to a better lifestyle. The Labour Bureau, under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, has revised the base year of the Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers to 2019=100 since June this year. These indices are based on data collected from a set of 787 sample villages across 34 states and UTs. The newly constructed CPI – AL & RL series (Base: 2019=100) replaces the earlier 1986-87=100 series.
The revised series has significantly enhanced the scope and coverage and incorporated many methodological changes in order to make the indices more robust.