Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023-24

Source:  PIB

Context:  The Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023-24 findings were released by the National Statistics Office (NSO), highlighting trends in household spending on food and non-food items.

• The data is expected to play a crucial role in policy formulation, inflation tracking, and poverty estimation.

About Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023-24

• Data Collection & Methodology

• • Conducted between August 2023 – July 2024 by NSO under MoSPI.
  • Digital data collection via Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) for accuracy and real-time validation.
  • Survey covered 405 items across food and non-food categories.
  • Rural sampling based on land possession, while urban sampling considered car ownership as a classification criterion.

• Broad Consumption Categories

• • Food items: Cereals, pulses, dairy, vegetables, fruits, eggs, meat, edible oil, beverages.
  • Non-food items: Fuel, medical expenses, education, rent, clothing, consumer services, entertainment.

• New Items Added in 2023-24 Survey

• • Food & Beverages: Almonds, pistachios, breakfast cereals, nachos, mayonnaise, cup noodles.
  • Personal Care: Handwash, facewash, body oil, deodorants, aftershave balm.
  • Clothing & Apparel: Joggers, jumpsuits, sleepwear, lehengas, shrugs.
  • Consumer Electronics: Bluetooth speakers, headphones, air purifiers, geysers, food processors.
  • Sports & Medical Equipment: Treadmills, fitness cycles, wheelchairs, weighing machines.

• Policy Implications

• • Provides insights into poverty levels, income disparities, and standard of living.
  • Helps in revising inflation estimates and GDP calculations.
  • Serves as a basis for policy interventions in welfare schemes such as food security, healthcare, and education.

About National Statistics Office (NSO)

What is NSO?

• NSO is India’s premier statistical body under the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• It is responsible for conducting surveys, data collection, and statistical analysis for economic and social indicators.

Established In

• Formed in 2019, after merging the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).

Chaired By

• The Secretary, MoSPI, heads the NSO.

Organizational Structure

• Survey Division: Conducts household and enterprise surveys.
• Economic Division: Estimates national income, inflation, and industrial production.
• Field Operations Division: Collects data from households and businesses.

Functions & Powers

• Conducts large-scale surveys, including National Sample Surveys (NSS), Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), and Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES).
• Publishes GDP data, Consumer Price Index (CPI), and Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
• Provides statistical inputs for government policies and economic planning.
• Ensures data accuracy, transparency, and compliance with global statistical standards.