Number Theory: What do onions & air-tickets tell about India’s consumer economy

Here’s what HT’s detailed analysis of unit level data from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) conducted in 2022-23 shows

Religious festivities and sentiments aside, Diwali also marks the peak of consumer spending in large parts of India. From humble earthen lamps to luxury cars, a large part of the country’s population buys something around Diwali. This makes it a good occasion for a detailed look at the inequality in India’s consumption spending, albeit, not related to the festival itself. Here’s what HT’s detailed analysis of unit level data from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) conducted in 2022-23 shows.

File photo(PTI)