Matchboxes will be costlier soon; here’s why
Zee News
What used to be a cheaper alternative to loose change is now worth twice as much.
New Delhi: Matchsticks used to cost 25 paise almost 40 years ago, then jumped to 50 paise a decade or two later. The last time matchstick box prices reached a high point was in 2007, when the price was raised to Re 1. The price has been doubled for the first time in more than a decade, and each box will now cost Rs 2.
The Indian population is littered with matchboxes. It could be for domestic motives, religious reasons, or personal reasons. What used to be a cheaper alternative to loose change is now worth twice as much.
The All-India Chamber of Match Industry unanimously agreed that the price should be raised, citing rising raw material costs as a reason. Retailers are currently selling a 600-large bundle of matchboxes with 50 matchsticks each for Rs.270-300. With the revised rates in effect from December 1, the same package will now cost Rs 430-480, representing a nearly 60% increase. Furthermore, this rate does not include the 12% GST or transportation costs.
