The Ministry of Labour & Employment disclosed that the year-on-year inflation rates for agricultural and rural labourers in December 2025 were 0.04% and 0.11%, respectively. Food inflation for these labor segments remained negative at -1.8% and -1.73%, attributed to decreased food prices due to enhanced production.
The recent decrease in inflation rates brings relief to vulnerable groups affected by rising prices, allowing them more purchasing power for a wider range of goods. The Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers, with a base year of 2019=100 since June, are crucial for monitoring these segments’ economic conditions.
The revised CPI – AL & RL series (Base: 2019=100) has expanded coverage and incorporated methodological changes for more robust indices. The updated series includes data from 787 sample villages across 34 states and UTs, offering a more comprehensive representation compared to the previous series.
India’s overall inflation rate, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), stood at 1.33% in December 2025, slightly higher than November’s 0.71%. The Reserve Bank of India’s monetary policy committee reduced its inflation forecast for the fiscal year 2025-26 to 2% from 2.6%, citing declining food prices and GST rate cuts as contributing factors.
