The All-India Consumer Price Index for agricultural and rural labourers (Base 1986-87=100) for March increased by 4 and 3 points at 625 and 626, respectively.
Among 20 States, the increase in the index for farm labourers varied between 1 and 11 points. Maharashtra clocked the maximum rise with 694 points, while Himachal Pradesh was lowest at 519 points.
In the case of rural labourers, Punjab with 691 points topped the index, while Himachal Pradesh with 539 points stood at the bottom, a Labour Ministry release said here on Friday.
The index for agricultural and rural labourers in Punjab saw the maximum increase of 11 points each, mainly due to the rise in the prices of milk, vegetables & fruits, gur, bidi, firewood, shirting cloth cotton (mill) and leather shoes.
The general inflation rate based on the CPI for farm and rural labourers rose from 6.34 per cent and 6.68 per cent in February to 6.84 per cent and 7.19 per cent, respectively, in March 2012. Inflation based on the food index for both the segments stood at 3.94 per cent and 4.10 per cent, respectively, during March.