NSSO released data on household consumer expenditure

June 21, 2013

As per the latest data on household consumer expenditure for 2011-12 released by the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO), families (both urban and rural) are spending more than half of their monthly spend on non-food items on an average.
Key points in the data:

Households spent over 51% of non-food items in their monthly bills worth Rs.1,430 in rural areas and about 62% out of an urban monthly spend of Rs.2,630.
In 1993-94, Indian families’ non-food bill was almost 37% in rural areas and about 45% in urban areas.
Although there has come some change in the percentage of food to non-food expenditure, people’s absolute consumption of food had increased over the years.
The consumption pattern of food sub-groups such as cereals has changed to some extent.
Country’s workforce increased by 14 million b/w 2009 and 2011-12 which took the total workforce of India to 472.9 million by January 1, 2012.
Rate of unemployment was 2% at the all-India level and rural areas; and 3% in urban regions.
Only about 10% of the urban population reported an MPCE (Monthly Per Capita Expenditure) above Rs.4,610.
Non-food categories span tobacco/cigarettes and ‘pan’, fuel, light, clothing, bedding, footwear, education, medical bills, entertainment and durable goods.
The percentage of labor force aged b/w 15-39 was 37% in urban and 41% in rural areas.
Ratio of Men/Women in labor force was 55:25 in urban and 56:16 in rural areas.
Around 41.1% people in urban areas and 54.2% in rural areas were self-employed.
The percentage of salaried people is urban areas was 41.4% whereas it was 7.3% in rural areas.
Monthly per capita expenditure was Rs 2,630 in urban whereas Rs 1,430 in rural.