AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD CONSUMER EXPENDITURE

New Delhi, 28 November 2005

NEW DELHI, November 29 (INFA):  The all-India average monthly per capita consumer expenditure (MPCE) during January-June last year was Rs.565 for rural India and Rs. 1060 on urban India, according the National Sample Survey, carried out by the NSSO of the Union Ministry of Statistic and Programme Implementation.

The survey results, released last week, were based on a randomly drawn samples of    29,631 households spread over 4,755 villages and 2,669 urban blocks, covering the entire geographical area of the country in accordance with a scientific sampling plan, served as the respondents.

Data collected from these households, by actual interviews, included commodity-specific information on 110 items of food, 26 items of clothing, bedding and footwear, 13 items of fuel, 49 items of consumer durables, and 107 other items.

In addition, area and type of structure of household dwelling unit, size of land possessed, principal fuel used, and other aspects of standard of living were recorded. The educational level of every member of surveyed household was also recorded.

A special feature of this survey was the use of alternative reporting (or recall) periods in respect of certain items of food consumption.  These items are: edible oil, egg, fish and meat, vegetables, fruits, spices, beverages and processed foods, and pan, tobacco and intoxicants. The NSSO has been conventionally using 30-day recall period for these items.

Based on the results of a pilot survey, conducted by the NSSO in 2000, an Expert Group had recommended a switchover to a seven-day reference period for these items.  Consequently, in this round, 30-day and seven-day recall periods have been canvassed on two independent sets of sample households for the first time.

The report presents, firstly, comparisons of the level and pattern of consumer expenditure based on two alternative recall periods for items of consumption mentioned above along with other aspects of the standard of living of the rural and urban population of the country.  

During the six months, approximately one-half of the rural population of India had MPCE below Rs.470. About 20% had MPCE below Rs.340.  Among the urban population, 82% had MPCE above Rs.500 and about 18% had MPCE above Rs.1500.

For rural India, the average MPCE of Rs.565 comprised Rs.305 for food and Rs.260 for non-food.  Food expenditure included Rs.103 for cereals and cereal substitutes, and Rs.107 for milk and milk products, vegetables and edible oil.  Non-food expenditure included Rs.54 for fuel and light, and Rs.45 for clothing and footwear.

For the urban population, the average MPCE of Rs.1060 comprised Rs.441 for food and Rs.619 for non-food.  Of food expenditure, only Rs.106 went towards (rural and 22% (urban) under 30-day recall compared to 33% and 285 respectively under the seven-day recall.

The proportion of rural households living in Katcha structures was 17% in January-June 2004 compared to 305 in 2000-2001. For urban households, the proportion of households living in katcha structures was 3.5% in January-June 2004 compared to 7% in 2000-2001.

The proportion of urban households using LPG as cooking fuel rose to 56% in the first half of 2004 compared to 475 in 2000-2001.  Among rural households, the proportion increased to 95 from 7% in 2000-2001.

The proportion of rural households using kerosene as primary source of energy for lighting fell to 46% in January-June 2004 from 48% in 2000-2001.  In urban households, the percentage fell to 7% in January-June 2004 from 9% in 2000-2001. ---INFA

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