Sikkim emerged as the frontrunner in household expenditure across rural and urban sectors, while Chhattisgarh recorded the lowest spending levels, as revealed by the Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure or MPCE data for the fiscal year 2022-23.
According to the Household Expenditure Consumption Survey released on February 24, Sikkim dominated the expenditure landscape with an average MPCE of Rs 7,731 in rural areas and Rs 12,105 in urban regions, securing the top position among States. In contrast, Chhattisgarh, endowed with mineral wealth, reported the lowest rural expenditure at Rs 2,466 and urban expenditure at Rs 4,483.
Jharkhand and Odisha closely trail Chhattisgarh, with rural MPCE figures of Rs 2,763 and Rs 2,950, respectively. Bihar and Manipur secure the second and third spots in urban consumption, with MPCE values of Rs 4,768 and Rs 4,880, respectively.
In the realm of household expenditure, Goa emerges as the second-highest spender among States, boasting an average MPCE of Rs 7,367 and Rs 8,734 in rural and urban areas, respectively. Kerala and Arunachal Pradesh clinch the third positions for rural and urban spending, respectively.
Notably, Meghalaya and Chhattisgarh exhibit the highest rural-urban disparity in average MPCE, with disparities of 83 per cent and 82 per cent, respectively.
Among Union Territories, Chandigarh recorded the highest MPCE values at Rs 7,467 and Rs 12,575 for rural and urban areas, respectively. Conversely, Ladakh and Lakshadweep reported the lowest MPCE figures for rural (Rs 4,035) and urban (Rs 5,475) sectors.
Of the 36 States and Union Territories surveyed, 27 register rural expenditure levels exceeding the national average MPCE of Rs 3,773, while 21 surpass the national average MPCE of Rs 6,459 for urban consumption. States such as Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Jammu & Kashmir exhibited consumption levels below the national average across both rural and urban sectors.
