The Labour Bureau, under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, has released the Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL) and Rural Labourers (CPI-RL) for August 2025. These indices, with 2019 as the base year (2019=100), reflect inflation trends and are critical for adjusting minimum wages and social security benefits for rural India.
📈 Key Highlights – August 2025:
| Metric | CPI-AL | CPI-RL |
| General Index | 136.34 ↑ | 136.60 ↑ |
| Change from July 2025 | +1.03 points | +0.94 points |
| Food Index | 137.07 ↑ | 137.38 ↑ |
| Change in Food Index (Monthly) | +1.39 points | +1.29 points |
| Year-on-Year Inflation | 1.07% | 1.26% |
| Food Inflation (YoY) | -0.55% | -0.28% |
➡️ Despite a rise in the food index from July, year-on-year food inflation remained negative, indicating that food prices are still lower compared to August 2024, though they’ve risen from the previous month.
📊 Group-Wise Index Comparison (All-India)
| Group | CPI-AL (Aug) | CPI-RL (Aug) |
| General Index | 136.34 | 136.60 |
| Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages | 137.07 | 137.38 |
| Pan, Tobacco & Intoxicants | 130.56 | 129.49 |
| Fuel & Light | 121.96 | 123.95 |
| Clothing & Footwear | 145.51 | 146.13 |
| Miscellaneous | 138.26 | 137.67 |
📝 Observation: Most categories saw a marginal increase. The highest increase was in Food and Clothing, indicating mild upward pressure on rural living costs.
🌐 State-Wise Index Movements (Selected States):
| State | CPI-AL (Jul) | CPI-AL (Aug) | CPI-RL (Jul) | CPI-RL (Aug) |
| Bihar | 131.57 | 133.51 ↑ | 131.19 | 133.20 ↑ |
| Andhra Pradesh | 141.33 | 141.96 ↑ | 141.50 | 142.12 ↑ |
| J&K | 144.93 | 146.62 ↑ | 145.32 | 146.96 ↑ |
| West Bengal | 133.73 | 136.80 ↑ | 133.01 | 136.10 ↑ |
| Uttar Pradesh | 137.67 | 138.29 ↑ | 137.63 | 138.21 ↑ |
| Gujarat | 138.31 | 137.30 ↓ | 137.96 | 137.02 ↓ |
| Manipur | 144.68 | 144.23 ↓ | 142.63 | 142.24 ↓ |
📍 Note: Most states registered a rise in CPI, except for a few like Gujarat and Manipur, where the index slightly dropped.
📌 What Is CPI-AL & CPI-RL?
- CPI-AL (Agricultural Labourers): Measures retail inflation based on the consumption pattern of landless or marginal rural agricultural workers.
- CPI-RL (Rural Labourers): Includes non-agricultural rural workers as well (e.g., construction, forestry).
These indices influence:
- Revision of minimum wages
- Cost of living adjustments
- Rural development policy and inflation targeting
🧾 Conclusion:
The rise in CPI-AL and CPI-RL for August 2025 reflects mild inflationary pressures, particularly in food and clothing sectors. Although the overall inflation remains modest, the month-on-month uptick suggests that living costs in rural areas are inching upwards, an important consideration for wage and welfare policies.