Retail inflation for industrial workers remained flat at 6.70 per cent in March this year on lower food prices. It was 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 CPI-IW for March increased by 1 point to 239 points.
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.