The Government of Kerala, The Department of Economics and Statistics issued a notification on September 12th 2024 notifying the Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Industrial Workers for the month of July 2024.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a vital economic indicator used to measure the average change over time in the prices paid by consumers for a basket of goods and services. It plays a crucial role in adjusting wages, pensions, and other benefits to reflect changes in the cost of living
For July 2024, the Department of Economics & Statistics has released the CPI figures for various centres across Kerala. These indices are calculated for two different base years:
- Base Year 2011-12 = 100
- Base Year 1998-99 = 100
The CPI numbers are essential for determining wage adjustments for employees under the Minimum Wages Act, ensuring that their compensation reflects the current cost of living.
Consumer Price Index (CPI) for July 2024
The CPI numbers are provided below for both base years. The linking factors used to adjust these indices are approved by the Government Order (G.O.) No. 34/2015/LBR dated 26-03-2015, which has been effective from April 2015.
Table: CPI Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Industrial Workers
| Sl. No. | Centre | Linking Factor | CPI (Base: 2011-12 = 100) | CPI (Base: 1998-99 = 100) |
| 1 | Thiruvananthapuram | 2.11 | 208 | 439 |
| 2 | Kollam | 2.09 | 207 | 433 |
| 3 | Punalur | 2.10 | 203 | 426 |
| 4 | Pathanamthitta | 2.03 | 219 | 445 |
| 5 | Alappuzha | 2.05 | 210 | 431 |
| 6 | Kottayam | 2.08 | 215 | 447 |
| 7 | Mundakayam | 2.17 | 211 | 458 |
| 8 | Idukki | 1.97 | 212 | 418 |
| 9 | Ernakulam | 2.03 | 202 | 410 |
| 10 | Chalakkudy | 2.00 | 221 | 442 |
| 11 | Thrissur | 1.87 | 216 | 404 |
| 12 | Palakkad | 2.09 | 198 | 414 |
| 13 | Malappuram | 2.00 | 210 | 420 |
| 14 | Kozhikode | 2.02 | 217 | 438 |
| 15 | Wayanad | 1.93 | 209 | 403 |
| 16 | Kannur | 2.02 | 219 | 442 |
| 17 | Kasargod | 2.05 | 225 | 461 |
Key Insights
- Thiruvananthapuram: CPI remains stable at 208 for the 2011-12 base and 439 for the 1998-99 base, showing no change from the previous month.
- Pathanamthitta: This centre saw a rise in CPI to 219 (2011-12 base) and 445 (1998-99 base), indicating a significant increase in the cost of living.
- Mundakayam: Recorded the highest CPI at 211 (2011-12 base) and 458 (1998-99 base), reflecting a considerable cost of living.
- Thrissur: Exhibited a decrease to 216 (2011-12 base) and 404 (1998-99 base), suggesting a drop in the cost of living compared to June 2024.
- Kasargod: The highest CPI for the month at 225 (2011-12 base) and 461 (1998-99 base), indicating the highest cost of living among the centres listed.
The CPI data for July 2024 provides valuable insights into the cost of living across different centres in Kerala. By using these indices, wage adjustments can be made to ensure that workers’ compensation reflects current economic conditions.
