Rupee falls 3 paise to 74.27 against U.S. dollar in early trade
The Hindu
On August 13, the rupee had settled at 74.24 against the U.S. dollar
The Indian rupee declined 3 paise to 74.27 against the U.S. dollar in opening trade on August 17, tracking the firm American currency. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 74.23 against the dollar, then fell further to 74.27, registering a fall of 3 paise over its previous close amid muted domestic equities. On Friday, the rupee had settled at 74.24 against the U.S. dollar.
The latest Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) by MoS&PI reveals a transformative shift in India’s economic landscape. For the first time in over a decade, granular data on Monthly Per Capita Expenditure (MPCE) highlights a significant decline in the proportional share of food spending—a classic validation of Engel’s Law as real incomes rise. Between 1999 and 2024, both rural and urban consumption pivoted away from staple-heavy diets toward protein-rich foods, health, education, and conveyance. As Indian households move beyond subsistence, these shifting Indian household spending patterns offer vital insights for social sector policy, poverty estimation, and the lived realities of an expanding middle-income population.












