Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 18: Inflation for both agricultural and rural labourers remained largely flat in September, with the year-on-year rate for agricultural workers recorded at -0.07% and for rural labourers at a marginal 0.31%, according to data released by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for agricultural labourers dropped slightly by 0.11 points to 136.23, while the index for rural labourers fell by 0.18 points, settling at 136.42. The decline was primarily driven by easing food prices, as reflected in the Food Index, which dipped by 0.47 points for agricultural workers and 0.58 points for rural workers.

The indices are part of a revised series based on the 2019=100 base year, calculated using data from 787 sample villages across 34 states and Union Territories. The Labour Bureau has implemented significant methodological improvements in this revised series, including updated weighting diagrams reflecting current consumption patterns, the use of Geometric Mean instead of Arithmetic Mean to better handle price volatility, and alignment with COICOP-2018 standards for classification of individual consumption.

Meanwhile, broader inflation trends across the economy also showed signs of cooling. The Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation eased to 0.13% in September from 0.52% in August, as per figures from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Additionally, Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation dropped to a striking low of 1.54% in September—its lowest level in over eight years—on the back of cheaper food and fuel prices.