Fruit & Nut Consumption Up, Pan & Tobacco Spending Rises: The average Indian is spending less on staples like grains, sugar, and salt, but their spending on items like fruits, dry fruits, and milk is increasing. Beverages and processed food items are the biggest spending categories, both in cities and villages. The share of pan-gutka and other tobacco products in consumption expenditure is also on the rise. This revelation comes from a report released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on Friday, which details per capita monthly consumption expenditure for the year 2023-24. According to the report, per capita monthly consumption expenditure in villages is ₹4122, while in cities it is ₹6996. Compared to 2022-23, consumption expenditure has increased by 9% in villages and 8% in cities.
The gap in consumption expenditure between rural and urban households is also narrowing. In 2011-12, there was an 84% difference in expenditure between cities and villages, which has now reduced to 70%. In 2011-12, the average Indian spent 53% of their consumption expenditure on food, which has decreased to 47% in 2023-24.
Comparing consumption expenditure data reveals that spending on grains, sugar, and salt has decreased in both villages and cities. People are spending more on milk and dairy products, and dry fruits. Spending on pulses has decreased in both villages and cities, but there is significant spending on beverages and processed food. Urban residents spend 60.32% of their total consumption expenditure on non-food items, while rural residents spend 52%. The biggest spending category for urban residents in non-food items is transportation, and this expenditure is constantly increasing. Urban residents spend 13% of their expenditure on housing rent and entertainment. Bihar lags behind in consumption expenditure. Rural consumption expenditure in states like Telangana and Tamil Nadu is higher than urban consumption expenditure in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh. Per capita monthly urban consumption expenditure in Bihar is ₹5080, while rural monthly expenditure in Telangana and Tamil Nadu is ₹5435 and ₹5701 respectively. Urban monthly expenditure in Uttar Pradesh is ₹5395, and in Jharkhand it is ₹5393. In Delhi, urban consumption expenditure is ₹8534, and rural consumption expenditure is ₹7400.
