The following table shows the average monthly expenditure per person on items of consumption in India (rural and urban) and Delhi slums, in percentages. Read the table and answer: compare the percentage of expenditure on food items among the different groups and their priorities;

Question

The following table shows the average monthly expenditure per person on items of consumption in India (rural and urban) and Delhi slums, in percentages. Read the table and answer: compare the percentage of expenditure on food items among the different groups and their priorities; do slum households depend more on cereals and pulses; on which item do people in different areas spend the least; and do slum dwellers give more emphasis to meat, fish and eggs?

Accepted Answer

> [!TLDR]
> Read the given rural/urban/Delhi-slum expenditure table: slums and urban areas spend a higher share on food overall; slums spend more on rice-and-wheat and on meat/fish/eggs; sugar is generally the smallest single item.

### The data table (transcribed exactly from the book)

Average monthly expenditure per person on items of consumption (%). *'Rice and wheat' in rural areas at 25 per cent means that of every ₹100 spent, ₹25 goes on rice and wheat alone.*

| Item | Rural | Urban | Delhi Slums |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Rice and wheat | 25.0 | 35.9 | 28.7 |
| Pulses and their products | 5.7 | 6.1 | 9.9 |
| Milk and milk products | 17.4 | 14.1 | 10.3 |
| Vegetables and fruits | 15.1 | 12.7 | 19.6 |
| Meat, fish and eggs | 6.3 | 5.3 | 13.1 |
| Sugar | 3.3 | 3.8 | 4.0 |
| Salt and spices | 10.8 | 10.8 | 8.1 |
| Other food items | 16.5 | 11.3 | 6.4 |
| **Total: All food** | **100** | **100** | **100** |
| Expenditure on food as % of all items | 62.9 | 72.2 | 72.8 |

### Answers to the questions

1. **Share of expenditure on food.** Food takes the largest share everywhere, and the share is **higher in urban areas (72.2%) and Delhi slums (72.8%) than in rural areas (62.9%)** — poorer/urban households spend a bigger proportion of their income just on food, leaving less for other needs. …

Item	Rural	Urban	Delhi Slums
Rice and wheat	25.0	35.9	28.7
Pulses and their products	5.7	6.1	9.9
Milk and milk products	17.4	14.1	10.3
Vegetables and fruits	15.1	12.7	19.6
Meat, fish and eggs	6.3	5.3	13.1
Sugar	3.3	3.8	4.0
Salt and spices	10.8	10.8	8.1
Other food items	16.5	11.3	6.4
Total: All food	100	100	100
Expenditure on food as % of all items	62.9	72.2	72.8

The data table (transcribed exactly from the book)

Answers to the questions

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