All-India CPI for Agricultural & Rural Labourers in August 2025 Shows Mixed Pressures
SDG 1: No Poverty | SDG 2: Zero Hunger
Institutions: Ministry of Labour & Employment
or August 2025, the All-India Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Agricultural Labourers rose by 1.03 points to 136.34 (base: 2019 = 100), while that for Rural Labourers increased by 0.94 points to 136.60. The food index component climbed by 1.39 points for agricultural labourers and 1.29 points for rural labourers. Year-on-year inflation for August stood at 1.07% for agricultural labourers and 1.26% for rural labourers. Meanwhile, food inflation was negative at β0.55% for agricultural labourers and β0.28% for rural labourers.
These CPI figures help track the cost pressures faced by agricultural and rural labour households, which are among the more vulnerable groups. The trends in general and food inflation inform wageβadjustment policies, rural employment schemes, and social protection design
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the average change in prices that households pay for a basket of goods and services over time. For rural and agricultural labourers, the basket includes essentials like food, clothing, fuel, housing, and services. It acts as a key indicator of the cost of living for specific groups and helps guide wage revisions, social protection, and policy decisions.
Food inflation is the rate at which prices of food items in the CPI basket (such as cereals, pulses, vegetables, milk, oils, etc.) rise or fall compared to the same period in the previous year. A positive food inflation means food prices are higher than last year, while a negative rate means food prices have actually fallen. Since food forms a large share of rural household expenditure, food inflation heavily influences overall CPI trends and directly affects real incomes.
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