Retail inflation for farm workers and rural labourers rose to 2.67 per cent and 2.76 per cent in February against 2.17 per cent and 2.35 per cent respectively in January 2021.

Inflation based on the food index of CPI-AL and CPI-RL is at 1.55 per cent and 1.85 per cent respectively in February 2021, a labour ministry statement said.

The All-India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers for February 2021 decreased by 1 point each to stand at 1037 and 1044 points respectively, compared to January.

The CPI-AL was at 1010 and CPI-RL at 1016 in February 2020.

The major contribution towards the fall in the general index of Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers came from food with (-) 2.94 points and (-) 2.54 points respectively mainly due to fall in prices of wheat atta, gur, potato, cauliflower, the statement said.

The fall/rise in index varied from State to State. In the case of Agricultural Labourers, it recorded a decrease of 1 to 20 points in 10 States and an increase of 1 to 11 points in 8 States whereas the index of 2 States remained stationary.

Tamil Nadu State with 1252 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh State with 818 points stood at the bottom.

In the case of Rural Labourers, it recorded a decrease of 1 to 19 points in 10 States and an increase of 1 to 11 points in 9 States whereas the index of Odisha State remained stationary.

Tamil Nadu State with 1237 points topped the index table whereas Bihar State with 842 points stood at the bottom.

Amongst states, the maximum decrease in the Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers was experienced by West Bengal State (-20 points and - 19 points respectively) mainly due to falling in the prices of wheat atta, chillies green, vegetables and fruits, and firewood.

On the contrary, the maximum increase in the Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers was experienced by Kerala State (+11 points each) mainly due to the rise in the prices of rice, fish fresh, onion and vegetables and fruits.

"The decrease in the index is mainly on account of decline in the prices of wheat atta and vegetables which will bring cheers to the millions of labourers working in rural areas by putting a lesser burden on their pockets," Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar said.