Recently, the detailed report of the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2022-23 has been released by the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI) of India. This report of the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey has provided important information about the spending habits of rural and urban families of different states of India.
Household Consumption Expenditure Survey
- The Household Consumption Expenditure Survey in India is conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO) every 5 years.
- Its main objective is to collect information about the consumption of goods and services by households in different states of India.
- The data compiled in the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey is also used to determine various important economic indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Poverty Rate, and Consumer Price Index (CPI).
- The current report calculates the average monthly per capita consumer expenditure (MPCE) based on 2011-12 prices.
- The survey, conducted by the National Statistical Office, covers the entire Indian Union except some remote villages/locations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- The findings of the last Household Consumption Expenditure Survey conducted in 2017-18 were not released by the government citing “data quality” issues.
Highlights of the Recent Household Consumption Expenditure Survey
Food Expenditure Preferences
- Beverages, Refreshments, and Processed Food: This category was the most significant part of the food expenditure across many states, particularly noticeable in Tamil Nadu with the highest spending percentages both in rural (28.4%) and urban (33.7%) areas.
- Milk and Milk Products: Predominantly favoured in rural and urban households of northern states like Haryana (rural 41.7%, urban 33.1%) and Rajasthan (urban 33.2%).
- Egg, Fish, and Meat: Kerala households showed the highest expenditure in this category, both in rural (23.5%) and urban (19.8%) setups.
Overall Food vs. Non-Food Expenditure
- Food Expenditure: In rural India, food constitutes about 46% of total household consumption expenditure, whereas in urban areas, it is around 39%.
- Non-Food Expenditure: There has been a significant shift towards higher spending on non-food items, with rural spending on non-food items rising from 40.6% in 1999 to 53.62% in 2022-23 and urban spending from 51.94% to 60.83% in the same period.
Major Non-Food Expenditure Categories
- Conveyance: Remained the top non-food expenditure in both rural and urban settings, with the highest percentages in Kerala.
- Medical Expenses: Particularly high in Kerala, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh for rural areas and West Bengal, Kerala, and Punjab for urban areas.
- Durable Goods: The highest expenditure on durable goods was noted in Kerala in both rural and urban areas.
- Fuel and Light: West Bengal and Odisha showed significant spending in rural and urban settings, respectively.
Regional Variations
- Different states showed varying preferences for spending on specific food and non-food items, reflecting cultural and regional economic differences.
Growth in Consumption Expenditure
- The survey indicates a substantial increase in consumption expenditure over the past decade. Rural monthly consumption per person increased by 164% from 2011-12 to 2022-23, while urban monthly consumption per person grew by 146%.
- The rural monthly per capita consumption has seen a faster growth when compared to the urban sector in India.
- The difference between the urban and rural MPCE has seen a decrease over the years, with the differential reducing from 90 percent in 2009-10 to 75 percent in 2022-23.