Retail inflation for industrial workers eased to 9.13 per cent in December from 11.47 per cent in November and 11.17 in the same month in 2012 on account of softening of prices of foods items. “The year-on-year inflation measured by monthly CPI-IW (Consumer Price Index-Industrial Workers) stood at 9.13 per cent for December, 2013, as compared to 11.47 per cent for the previous month and 11.17 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year,” a Labour Ministry statement said.
According the press release, food inflation stood at 11.49 per cent in December against 16.17 per cent in previous month and 13.53 per cent during the corresponding month of 2012.
4-point drop in CPI The all India CPI-IW for December declined by four points and pegged at 239 points. At item level, onion, ginger, chillies green, brinjal, cauliflower, cabbage, peas, tomato, potato and other vegetable items and sugar are responsible for the decrease in the index.
However, this neutralised to some extend by fish, eggs, poultry, milk, pure ghee, garlic, fire wood, ESI (employees’ state insurance) contribution and the like, putting upward pressure on the index.
