Date:21/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/21/stories/2006092114850300.htm

New Delhi

Urban Delhi tops in per capita expenditure

Staff Reporter

34 % of monthly per capita expenditure on food items: Report

NEW DELHI: Delhi tops the per capita expenditure in the country so far as urban areas are concerned. The average monthly per capita expenditure in Delhi increased from Rs.1,563 during 2003 to Rs.1,606 in 2004, according to latest figures.

Compared to this, the monthly per capita expenditure in the urban areas of Gujarat stood at Rs.1,092, Haryana at Rs.1,050, Punjab at Rs.1,059, Tamil Nadu at Rs.1,131, Andhra Pradesh at Rs.1,102, Uttar Pradesh at Rs. 827, Madhya Pradesh at Rs.793 and Bihar at Rs.784.

Releasing the "Household Consumer Expenditure in Delhi" report brought out by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics on the basis of a sample survey, State Finance Minister A.K. Walia said in the urban areas of Delhi about 34 per cent of monthly per capita expenditure was on food items that included 10 per cent on milk and milk products, 7 per cent on cereals and pulses, 2 per cent on edible oil, 4 per cent on vegetables, 2 per cent on fruits.

About 8 per cent of the total monthly per capita expenditure was on fuel, 5 per cent on clothing and bedding, 8 per cent on education, 2 per cent on medical, 6 per cent on rent and 1 per cent on pan and tobacco.

Therefore in Delhi about 34 per cent of the expenditure was on food items and 66 per cent on other items.

However at the national level (urban areas) 42 per cent was on food items and 58 per cent on other items.

There were around 32.75 lakh families in Delhi with overall average family size of 4.62 persons. Of the total families, 2.03 lakh were living in rural areas and 30.72 lakh in urban areas.

Interestingly, the survey reveals that a female member of the family was heading about 11 per cent of the total households.