The latest Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2022-23 indicates a notable rise in the consumption of paan, tobacco, and intoxicants over the past decade, with people allocating a larger portion of their income to these products.
The survey, conducted by the National Sample Survey Office from August 2022 to July 2023, reveals that in rural areas, the expenditure on these items has increased from 3.21 per cent in 2011-12 to 3.79 per cent in 2022-23. Similarly, in urban areas, the spending has grown from 1.61 per cent to 2.43 per cent during the same period.
Contrastingly, the proportion of spending on education has decreased both in rural and urban areas. In urban regions, it has dropped from 6.90 per cent in 2011-12 to 5.78 per cent in 2022-23, while in rural areas, it reduced from 3.49 per cent to 3.30 per cent.
The survey also highlights an increase in spending on beverages and processed food, rising from 8.98 per cent to 10.64 per cent in urban areas and from 7.90 per cent to 9.62 per cent in rural areas between 2011-12 and 2022-23.
Additionally, expenditures on conveyance have seen an uptick, increasing from 6.52 per cent to 8.59 per cent in urban areas and from 4.20 per cent to 7.55 per cent in rural areas during the same period.
The study notes a significant doubling of the Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) from 2011-12 to 2022-23, with the average MPCE in urban areas reaching Rs 6,459 in 2022-23, compared to Rs 2,630 in 2011-12.
