Rural Inflation Flat in December: Food Prices in Negative Zone, Non-Food Costs Rise

• Retail inflation for agricultural and rural labourers remained largely muted in December 2025.
• The All-India Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL) and Rural Labourers (CPI-RL) saw marginal declines.
• Food inflation stayed in negative territory at -1.80% for agricultural labourers and -1.73% for rural labourers.
• Non-food components like fuel and light, clothing, and footwear registered modest increases.
• State-wise trends varied, with some states showing increases and others declines in CPI-AL and CPI-RL.

Why It Matters: Rural inflation remained flat in December 2025, driven by negative food prices despite rising non-food costs.