Retail inflation for factory workers flat at 6.7% in March

Retail inflation for industrial workers remained flat at 6.70 per cent in March this year on lower food prices. It stood at 6.73 per cent in February.

"The year-on-year inflation measured by monthly consumer price index-industrial workers (CPI-IW) stood at 6.70 per cent for March as compared to 6.73 per cent for the previous month and 11.44 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year," a labour ministry press release said.

According to the statement, the food inflation stood at 7.50 per cent against 13.21 per cent in February and 14.98 per cent during the same month in 2013.

The all-India consumer price index-industrial workers for March increased by 1 point to 239 points.

Marginal increase

The largest upward pressure came from food group which contributed 0.99 percentage points.

At item level, rice, wheat, goat meat, milk (buffalo), vegetables and fruit items are responsible for the marginal increase in index.

However, this increase was restricted to some extent by groundnut oil, fish fresh, poultry, eggs and onion.

At centre level, Bokaro recorded the highest increase of 8 points, followed by Godavarikhani & Chhindwada (7 points each), Rangapara Tezpur (6 points) and Kanpur & Durgapur (5 points each). Among others, 4 points rise was registered in 7 centres, 3 points in 6 centres, 2 points in 9 centres and 1 points in 22 centres.

On the contrary, Kollam and Guwahati reported a decline of 5 points each followed by Coimbatore (3 points), 2 points in 3 centres and 1 point in 6 centres.

Indices of 16 centres observed no change.

The indices of 36 centres are above All-India Index and other 41 centres’ indices are below national average.

The index of Tiruchirapalli centre remained at par with all-India index. group soon, says Gayle.