According to the information 
furnished by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme 
Implementation, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has released a new Consumer 
Price Index (CPI) on 18th February, 2011 with 2010 = 100 as the base 
year. The new index covers both rural and urban areas.
 
                The CPIs for Industrial Workers, 
Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers reflect change in price level 
of goods and services consumed by these population segments. The new series is 
broad based and covers the entire rural and urban population.   
 
         In the new series consumption patterns 
have been derived from the results of the Consumer Expenditure Survey conducted 
by the National Sample Survey Office during 2004-05. All India weights for 
Rural, Urban and Combined used in the survey are given in Annexure. Food group 
weights in all-India CPI (Rural), CPI (Urban) and CPI (Combined) are 59.31%, 
37.15% and 49.71% respectively. Remaining weights are for non-food groups i.e. 
housing, fuel & light, clothing & footwear and miscellaneous 
group.
                                         
          This information was given by Minister of Labour and Employment Shri   Mallikarjun Kharge  in reply in reply to a written 
question regarding  the details of Consumer Price Index (CPI) of food articles in urban 
and rural areas during the current financial year; whether a new CPI is being 
prepared by the Government; if so, the additional benefits this system is 
estimated to yield; and the extent of representation each factor would be given 
in the new CPI and the basis thereof?