Retail inflation for industrial workers eases to 5.14% in April

Retail inflation for industrial workers marginally eased to 5.14 percent in April compared to 5.64 percent in March, mainly due to lower prices of certain food items, as per a report by Ministry of Labour and Employment.

"Year-on-year inflation for the month (April) stood at 5.14 percent compared to 5.64 per cent for the previous month and 5.45 percent during the corresponding month of the previous year," the labour ministry said in a statement.

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According to the statement, food inflation stood at 4.78 percent in April against 5.36 percent in the previous month. The same was at 6.56 per cent in April 2020.

The All-India CPI-IW (Consumer Price Index-Industrial Workers) for April 2021 increased by 0.5 points and stood at 120.1 points from 119.6 points in March.

In terms of one-month percentage change, it rose by 0.42 per cent in April compared to March this year while the increase was 0.92 per cent as against the same period a year ago.

The maximum upward pressure in current index came from Food and Beverages group contributing 0.43 percentage points to the total change.

The maximum upward pressure in current index came from Food & Beverages group contributing 0.43 percentage points to the total change. 

At item level, Arhar Dal, Masur Dal, Fish Fresh, Goat Meat, Poultry Chicken, Eggs-Hen, Edible Oils, Apple, Banana, Grapes, Leechi, Orange, Papaya, Tea Leaf, Tea Hot-drink, Barber/Beautician Charges, Flowers/Flower Garlands, Doctor’s Fee, Rail Fare, Servicing Charges of Motor Cycle, Cable Charges, etc. are responsible for the rise in index.

However, this increase was largely checked by Rice, Onion, Bitter Gourd, Drum Stick, Lady Finger, Parval, Cooking Gas, Petrol, etc. putting downward pressure on the index.

Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar said the rise in the index will result into increased wages of working class population by way of an increase in dearness allowance payable to them.

"Decline in inflation during April 2021 is a sign of respite for consumers which is mainly due to lower retail prices of vegetables," he noted.

It is primarily used to regulate the dearness allowance of government employees and workers in industrial sectors. It is also used in the fixation and revision of minimum wages in scheduled employments besides measuring the inflation in retail prices.