New Methodology to Assess Price Index ;

According to information furnished by the Ministry of Statistics &Programme Implementation on 18^th February, 2011, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), released a new series of Consumer Price Index (CPI) numbers on base 2010=100 for rural and urban areas separately and combined (rural + urban). This index is available at the all-India level and also at the level of States/UTs. The All-India Consumer price indices for January, 2011(provisional) in respect of rural, urban and combined are 107, 104 and 106 respectively.

Consumption patterns used for new CPI have been derived from the results of the Consumer Expenditure Survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Office during 2004-05. A statement giving details of sub-group and group along with all India weights for rural, urban and combined is given below:

New series of CPI-- All India weights
Sub group/group	Rural	Urban	Combined (Rural+Urban)
Cereals and products	19.08	8.73	14.59
Pulses and products	3.25	1.87	2.65
Milk and milk products	8.59	6.61	7.73
Oils and fats	4.67	2.89	3.90
Egg, fish and meat	3.38	2.26	2.89
Vegetables	6.57	3.96	5.44
Fruits	1.90	1.88	1.89
Sugar etc	2.41	1.26	1.91
Condiments and spices	2.13	1.16	1.71
Non- alcoholic beverages	2.04	2.02	2.03
Prepared meals etc	2.57	3.17	2.83
Pan, tobacco and Intoxicants	2.73	1.35	2.13
Food, beverages and tobacco	59.31	37.15	49.71
Fuel and light	10.42	8.40	9.49
Clothing and bedding	4.60	3.34	4.05
Footwear	0.77	0.57	0.68
Clothing, bedding and footwear	5.36	3.91	4.73
Housing		22.53	9.77
Education	2.71	4.18	3.35
Medical care	6.72	4.34	5.69
Recreation and amusement	1.00	1.99	1.43
Transport and communication	5.83	9.84	7.57
Personal care and effects	3.05	2.74	2.92
Household requisites	4.48	3.92	4.30
Others	1.12	0.99	1.06
Miscellaneous	24.91	28.00	26.31
All Groups	100.00	100.00	100.00

Prices of specified consumption items are collected every month from 1181 selected villages covering all the districts by the officials of the Department of Posts. Prices from urban areas covering 310 selected towns which include all State/UT capitals by the Field Operations Division of the National Sample Survey Office, excepting three States/UT of Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Lakshadweep where the price collection work is undertaken by the respective State/UT Government.

This information was given by Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Minister for Labour and Employment in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

PIB Release, March 14, 2011