| PRICES AND COST OF LIVING |
 |
PRICE SITUATION |
|
RETAIL PRICES OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES |
|
WHOLESALE PRICE INDEX NUMBER FOR AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES |
|
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBER FOR WORKING CLASS POPULATION |
|
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBER FOR INDUSTRIAL WORKER |
|
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBER FOR RURAL POPULATION |
|
|
| PRICE SITUATION |
17.1.0
|
There
is a strong relationship between the stability in price level and
the development of the economy of a State. This is obvious due to
the fact that changes in general price level has a direct bearing
on the living conditions of the people particularly on the poorer
sections of the society. So far as the price situation in the State
is concerned the same found to have remained more or less steady during
the year 2002-2003. The movement of price level in Assam as evident
from the trend in different price indices as well as from retail price
movement is briefly analysed in the paragraphs that follows. |
|
|
| RETAIL PRICES OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES
|
17.1.1
|
It has
been observed during the first few months of the year 2002 & 2003
prices of a number of essential commodities have recorded different
variations in their prices. During this period the prices of commodities
like Rice, Atta, Dal, Onion, Salt etc. have shown a more or less moderate
upward trend while in respect of the prices of Mustard Oil it has
continued to rise sharply as compared to the others. On the other
hand, prices of commodities like Potato, Sugar, Kerosene etc. have
shown some fall of prices and some others have registered varying
fluctuations in their prices. Table-17.1 shows the
percentage variation of Average Retail Prices of certain commodities
in Urban Areas during 2002 and 2003. |
|
|
| WHOLESALE PRICE INDEX NUMBER FOR
AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES |
17.1.2
|
The
Wholesale Price Index Number for the State has been worked out by
taking into account the Agricultural Commodities only. The annual
average of Wholesale Price Index of Agricultural Commodities in Assam
(Base 1993-94=100) stood at 161 in 2002-2003 as against 163 in 2001-2002
and 162 in 2000-2001. The Index thus displayed a marginal decrease
of 1.22 percent in 2002-2003 over 2001-2002. The Table 17.2
shows the movement of Wholesale Price Index of Agricultural Commodities
in Assam for last few years. |
|
|
| CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBER FOR
WORKING CLASS POPULATION : |
17.1.3
|
The
Average Consumer Price Index Number for Working Class Population (Base
1982=100) for the State is arrived at by taking into account the weighted
average of the Indices of the three Centres viz., Guwahati, Silchar,
and Tinsukia. The annual average of Consumer Price Index for Working
Class Population (Base 1982=100) for the State displayed a price rise
of 2.16 per cent in 2002 over 2001 as against 0.73 per cent increase
recorded in 2001 over 2000. The Centre wise price rise is comparatively
higher in Tinsukia (3.64 per cent) followed by Guwahati (1.91 per
cent) and Silchar witnessed very nominal rise of prices (0.54 per
cent). The month wise average Price Indices from January to June 2003
shows a rise of prices by 2.86 per cent over the corresponding period
of 2002. |
|
|
| CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBER FOR
INDUSTRIAL WORKER : |
17.1.4
|
The
Labour Bureau of the Government of India has been compiling the all
India Consumer Price Index Number for Industrial workers for 70 industrially
developed centres spread out all over the country. This series of
Index (Base 1982=100) has covered five Centres of Assam viz., Guwahati
(Kamrup), Doomdooma (Tinsukia), Labac (Cachar), Morioni (Jorhat) and
Rangapara (Sonitpur). In addition to above, the Directorate of Economics
and Statistics is also compiling C. P. I for Industrial Workers for
Digboi Centre with Base 1960=100. During the year 2002 the annual
average of C. P. I for Industrial Workers for Assam has shown a rise
of 1.20 per cent over 2001 as against 4.15 per cent rise at all India
level. The C.P.I. for Industrial Worker increased from the point of
418 in January, 2003 to 428 in June, 2003, the increase being 2.39
per cent over the period. The rate of increase of the Index in different
Centres in Assam during the last six months i. e. from January, 2003
to June, 2003 were found to be 3.78 per cent at Doomdooma, 2.88 per
cent at Morioni, 2.55 per cent at Digboi, 2.49 per cent at Guwahati,
1.73 per cent at Rangapara and 1.34 per cent at Labac Centre. |
|
|
| CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBER FOR
RURAL POPULATION |
17.1.5
|
The Consumer Price Index for Rural Population in Assam (Plain Districts)
with base 1944=100 are compiled by the Directorate of Economics and
Statistics, Assam. The average Consumer Price Index for Rural Population
during the period January to June 2003 found to have moved up marginally
by 1.44 per cent over the corresponding averages of the previous year.
The annual average of this Index has also shown a nominal increase
of 1.39 per cent in 2002 over 2001. |
