Page 2 - Consumption

ITC adds 68 crorepati employees in FY24; 24.11% increase from last year

The addition in the eight-figure bracket reflects the scale of ITC's operations and spread in newer categories

US inflation cools in May; consumer spending rises marginally by 0.2%

In the 12 months through May, the personal consumption expenditures price index increased 2.6 per cent after advancing 2.7 per cent in April

The new tale of two Indias

There are two distinct political narratives in the country today--one giving voice to an "aspiring India" and the other to a "hopeless India". Both factions have their work cut out

Why Indians might find it difficult to cut down on their palm oil demand?

Price volatility may lead some companies to reduce palm oil consumption and seek alternatives, but its historically lower cost will likely keep it as the top choice for consumers

Needed: A data sensitisation blitz

What changed in the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2022-23 - and did it deliver?

Share of conveyance spending witnesses sharpest increase: HCES data

Transportation costs have also gone up and people are on the move for all sorts of reasons

Japan's economy contracts, complicating Bank of Japan's rate hike plans

Private consumption, which accounts for more than half of the Japanese economy, fell 0.7 per cent

FMCG firms expect volume-led growth in FY25 with improvement in revenue

Leading FMCG makers expect a volume-led growth in FY25, with a revival in consumption supported by a lower inflationary environment, projections of a normal monsoon and good rabi crop. Companies such as Britannia, Marico, Dabur, GCPL and HUL in their latest March quarter earnings also expect a revenue growth in the new financial year as the deflationary cycle is over. The companies were forced to slash prices as prices of major commodities had fallen, which had in turn impacted their topline and value growth in the last two quarters of FY24. Besides, they expect a gradual uptick from the rural market, which contributes over one-third FMCG sales in the country. For Dabur a volume growth will be the way forward in this fiscal, said its CEO Mohit Malhotra in an investor call. He remains optimistic of the gradual uptick in consumption trends in FY25 and expects a mid-to-high single digit volume growth considering a normal monsoon, improving macroeconomic indicators, government spendi

Inflation still high and focus on minimising risk, says RBI report

Indicates 'significant per capita income shifts' underway

Do we need new line to assess poverty? Should an expert panel be appointed?

The Rangarajan Committee used alternative methodology, wherein a household is considered poor if it is unable to save

63% women aspire to be entrepreneurs, seek financial independence: Study

The fourth edition of the PayNearby Women Financial Index finds more women are seeking financial independence, adopting digital payments, and seeking better financial planning

Decoding GDP numbers: Consumption sluggish, govt capex powers investment

According to the latest gross domestic product (GDP) data released by the National Statistical Office on Thursday, private final consumption expenditure (PFCE) grew at 3.5 per cent in the December qtr

Accepting our income demographics

With the blurring urban-rural income divide and the diminishing mental and physical distinctions, large mass markets with modest-income consumers are finally emerging

Govt to conduct another household survey before changing CPI: Report

The findings could lead to a decrease in the weighting of food in the CPI, which is used by the central bank to frame monetary policy

Rural Indians are now spending more on processed food, drinks than cereals

For urban India, the spending on processed food has been more than that on cereals since 2011-12 but the gap has widened in the last 10 years

Indians spending less on food, more on discretionary items, shows survey

The Household Consumption Expenditure Survey, released late on Saturday, estimates average rural consumer spending rose to Rs 3,773 a month per person

No longer the idiot box: How smart TV is changing consumption habits

Smart TV is changing the way programming is consumed and monetised, while making streaming more like regular broadcast television

Growth adjustments

Weak consumption demand is a risk

CMS Info Systems reports 9.3% growth in retail consumption trends

In data shared with Business Standard, the company said the Y-o-Y growth in the October and November period has been at 12.5 per cent, pointing at robust growth in the third quarter as well

Weak consumption demand key vulnerability for growth: Shashanka Bhide

Shashanka Bhide, one of the three external members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), on Thursday flagged a weak consumption demand as a key vulnerability for growth in the second half of the current fiscal as well as the next financial year. After more-than-expected Q2 growth which printed at 7.6 per cent on the back of a 7.8 per cent clip in Q2, the Reserve Bank in the December policy review revised upwards the FY24 growth projection by 50 bps to 7 per cent. While the government does not have an official GDP forecast number, it expects the economy to grow at 6.5-7 per cent this fiscal. "The September quarter growth at 7.6 per cent was significantly more than what we were expecting. But these numbers, even when they are more positive or favourable, require far more concern. "I believe there are vulnerabilities to this 7 per cent growth assessment. The few major growth drivers include investments that are driving growth, but we see weaker growth in consumption demand," Bhide s