Team Blitz India
The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, last week released the Household Consumer Expenditure Survey (HCES) conducted from August 2022 to July 2023.
The survey shows household consumption and patterns, breaking 11- year data since the last exercise was conducted in 2011-12. Field work for the second year of HCES 2022-24 was initiated from August 2023. The survey aims to generate estimates of household Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) and its distribution separately for rural and urban areas, for states and Union Territories, and different socio-economic groups.
Doubling of expenditure
Among the highlights of the survey is the fact that per capita monthly household expenditure more than doubled in 2022-23 compared to 2011-12. On an average it stood at Rs 3,773 in rural areas and Rs 6,459 in urban areas for all categories.
Narrowing urban-rural gap
The survey also shows that consumption in rural areas is growing faster than in urban areas. The increase in consumption in rural and urban areas is about 2.5 times. The gap was 84 per cent in 2011-12 and it came down to 71 per cent in 2022-23.
Consumption of cereals, food down
In rural areas the consumption of cereals as a share in the average MPCE decreased from 22 per cent in 1999-2000 and 10.7 per cent in 2011-12 to less than 5 per cent now. The total consumption of food as a share of the average MPCE decreased from almost 60 per cent in 1999-2000; 53 per cent in 2011- 12 to 46 per cent now.
In urban areas the consumption of cereals and food decreased from 12 per cent in 1999-2000; over 6 per cent in 2011-12 to less than 4 per cent now. Total consumption of food in the average MPCE is down to 39 per cent from almost 50 per cent in 1999-2000 and 43 per cent in 2011-12.
More buying of poultry, fruits
Expenditure on high-value items such as eggs, fish, meat, fruits, and vegetables has increased. This expenditure in rural India has risen from 6.18 per cent in 2011-12 to 9.01 per cent in 2022-23, while in urban India, it has risen from 8.91 per cent in 2011-12 to 10.54 per cent in 2022-23.
