Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers December, 2020

Ministry of Labour & Employment

Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (2016=100) – December, 2020

Key points

All-India CPI for Industrial Workers (2016=100) for December, 2020 decreased to 118.8 points compared to 119.9 points for November, 2020.

In percentage terms, it went down by 0.92% w.r.t. previous month mainly due to Food group items having a share of 39.17% in the total weight which recorded a fall of 3.16% between these two months. During the period, decrease in prices of food items viz. Rice, Poultry (Chicken), Orange, Brinjal, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Chillies Green, Ginger, Onion, Peas, Potato, Tomato, etc.  had greater impact.

Year-on-year inflation based on all-items stood at 3.67 per cent for December, 2020 as compared to 5.27 per cent for the previous month and 9.63 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year. Similarly, Food inflation stood at 2.89 per cent against 7.48 per cent of the previous month and 12.22 per cent during the corresponding month a year ago.

The All-India CPI-IW for December, 2020 decreased by 1.1 points and stood at 118.8 (one hundred eighteen and point eight). On 1-month percentage change, it decreased by (-) 0.92per cent between November and December, 2020compared to (+) 0.61 per cent increase between corresponding months of previous year.

The maximum downward pressure in current index came from Food & Beverages group contributing (-) 1.53 percentage points to the total change. At item level, Rice, Poultry (Chicken), Orange, Brinjal, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Chillies Green, Ginger, Onion, Peas, Potato, Tomato, etc. are responsible for the decline in index. However, this decline was checked by Soyabean Oil, Mustard Oil, Sunflower Oil, Tea Leaf, Cooking Gas, Petrol, etc., putting upward pressure on the index.

At centre level, Ramgarh recorded the maximum decrease of 6points. Among others, 4 points decrease was observed in 3centres,3 points in 7 centres,2 points in 29centres and 1 point in 24centres. On the contrary, Solapur recorded a maximum increase of 2 points. Among others, 1 pointrise was observed in5centres.Rest of 18centres’ indices remained stationary.

Year-on-year inflation based on all-items stood at 3.67 per cent for December, 2020 as compared to 5.27 per cent for the previous month and 9.63 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year. Similarly, Food inflation stood at 2.89per cent against 7.48per cent of the previous month and 12.22 per cent during the corresponding month a year ago.

Y-o-Y Inflation based on CPI-IW (Food and General)

All-India Group-wise CPI-IW for November and December, 2020

*Rounded upfrom second decimal place.

CPI-IW: Groups Indices

Speaking about the latest index, Shri Santosh Gangwar, Minister of State (I/C) for Labour and Employment said,the fall in inflation during December month is mainly due to food items which experienced a significant fall in retail prices on account of rise in supply. He added that the fall in inflation would imply increased purchasing power in the hands of Working class families.

Shri DPS Negi, Director General of Labour Bureau while releasing the index said, the fall in index during December, 2020 and fall in inflation rate are in line with other price indices compiled and released by other Government agencies.

He further said that it is mainly due to Food & Beverages group contributing (-) 1.53 percentage points to the total change. Among items, Rice, Poultry (Chicken), Orange, Brinjal, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Chillies Green, Ginger, Onion, Peas, Potato, Tomato, etc. are responsible for the decline in index.

The next issue of CPI-IW for the month of January, 2021 will be released on Friday 26thFebruary, 2021. The same will also be available on the office website www.labourbureaunew.gov.in.

The Labour Bureau, an attached office of the M/o Labour & Employment, has been compiling Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers every month on the basis of retail prices collected from 317 markets spread over 88 industrially important centres in the country. The index is compiled for 88 centres and All-India and is released on the last working day of succeeding month.

 Source: PIB