CPI for Agricultural and Rural Labourers | 01 Mar 2025

Source: PIB 

The Labour Bureau, Ministry of Labour & Employment has released the All-India Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL) and Rural Labourers (CPI-RL). 

• The CPI-AL and CPI-RL series is presently compiled monthly for 20 states and at the All-India level. 
• It recorded inflation rates of 4.61% and 4.73% in January 2025 respectively, marking a notable decline, indicating reduced price pressures on essential goods and services in rural India. 
• CPI-AL: It measures changes in cost-of-living for rural agricultural laborers and is used to adjust minimum wages for agricultural workers across different states. 
  • CPI(AL) is a subset of CPI(RL). 
• CPI-RL: It measures the changes in the cost of living for rural laborers. 
  • The base year for both CPI-AL and CPI-RL is 1986-87.  
    • The base year is a reference point for comparing statistical changes over time. E.g., GDP,  inflation etc.