AICPIN for the month of February 2013

Consumer Price Index Numbers for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) February 2013

According to a press release issued today by the Labour Bureau, Ministry of Labour & Employment the All-India CPI-IW for February, 2013 rose by 2 points and pegged at 223 (two hundred and twentythree). On 1-month percentage change, it increased by 0.90 per cent between January and February compared with 0.51 per cent between the same two months a year ago.

The largest upward contribution to the change in current index came from Food group which increased by 1.28 per cent, contributing 1.40 percentage points to the total change. This was followed by Miscellaneous and Fuel & Light groups with 0.62 and 0.80 per cent increase respectively contributing 0.27 and 0.11 percentage points to the change. At item level, largest upward pressure came from Rice, Wheat & Wheat Atta, Fish Fresh, Goat Meat, Poultry (Chicken), Milk, Onion, Tea (Readymade), Electricity Charges, Rail Fare, Petrol, etc. However, this was compensated by Root Vegetables and Sugar, putting downward pressure on the index.

The year-on-year inflation measured by monthly CPI-IW stood at 12.06 per cent for February, 2013 as compared to 11.62 per cent for the previous month and 7.57 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year. Similarly, the Food inflation stood at 14.98 per cent against 14.08 per cent of the previous month and 5.08 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year.

At centre level, Belgaum and Munger-Jamalpur centres recorded the largest increase of 7 points each followed by Vijaywada, Tiruchirapally and Jharia (6 points each). Among others, 5 points rise was registered in 5 centres, 4 points in 6 centre, 3 points in 9 centres, 2 points in 14 centres and 1 point in 15 centres. On the contrary, 4 points decline was reported in Coimbatore, followed by Tirpura and Guwahati (3 points each) and 1 point in 7 centres. Rest of the 14 centres’ indices remained stationary.

The indices of 41 centres are above All-India Index and other 36 centres’ indices are below national average. The index of Haldia centre was at par with all-India index.

The next index of CPI-IW for the month of March, 2013 will be released on Tuesday, 30 April, 2013. The same will also be available on the office website www.labourbureau.nic.in.