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Average quarterly household expenses rose 14% to ₹56,135 in the March 2025 quarter due to inflation across essential categories, which has outpaced income growth, according to Worldpanel by Numerator. The average quarterly expenses were about ₹42,000 in 2022.Families in villages and lower-income groups saw the most significant increase in expenses, as spending rose 18%, while higher-income households in cities also saw a 15% increase in quarterly spending, said the study – Kharcha 3.0 – adding that wallet stress has surged over the past three years with consumers struggling to balance essential consumption, debt obligations, and limited discretionary spending."With rising expenses across both urban and rural segments and most families prioritising essentials, savings, and debt repayment, consumers are becoming increasingly cautious in their choices. For brands, this is a pivotal moment to reimagine how they deliver value — by staying affordable, relevant, and responsive to the evolving needs of households that are balancing resilience with restraint," said K Ramakrishnan, Managing Director – South Asia, Worldpanel by Numerator.More than 58% of households said they are struggling to manage expenses, up from 38% a year ago, while only 17% of families said they are living comfortably. The rest reported that they are “managing somehow.”According to the Reserve Bank of India, the consumer confidence index was at 95.4 in May, compared to 95.5 in March. A score below 100 indicates more pessimism than optimism.59% of households believe their financial situation will get worse in the next three months, and just 11% expect things to improve.With tighter budgets, Indian consumers are focusing their spending on basic needs, and about 80% of respondents said they only buy essential groceries. Many are also switching to cheaper brands and cutting back on impulse purchases.According to the study, which surveyed 6,000 homes, more than half of households, or 54%, said they would save if they received additional income.

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli issued calls for an urgent all-party meeting as the country's political turmoil took a turn for the worse on September 9, with student-led protests sweeping across regions in defiance of curfews and escalating security crackdowns. Oli announced the meeting for Tuesday evening, though the location was not disclosed. In a brief statement, he appealed for calm, stressing that dialogue was the only path forward, news agency PTI reported.“Violence is not the way. We need to find a peaceful way out through dialogue,” he said. At the time of writing this report, the unrest was showing no sign of abating. Worse, the situation was only turning more and more dangerous by the hour.Demonstrators, most of them young Nepalis, dismissed Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak’s resignation on Monday as insufficient. They insisted Oli himself must step down, arguing that leadership failures extend beyond the ministry. The protests, triggered by the government’s controversial ban on social media sites, spiralled after police opened fire on crowds in Kathmandu and other cities. At least 19 people were killed and more than 300 injured, in what has been described as one of the deadliest days in Nepal’s recent history. Public anger deepened as reports emerged of indiscriminate use of force. Prominent media outlets condemned the government’s response.Ukeraa.com labelled 8 September a “black day,” noting it marked the highest number of protester deaths in a single day in the country. Ratopati, another widely read news portal, accused authorities of “cowardly action” and denounced the shootings as “highly deplorable.”According to local analysts, what sets this movement apart is its character. Unlike the power struggles of Nepal’s recent past, the agitation is not being driven by political parties. Instead, it is the discontent of young citizens -- fuelled by anger over corruption, unemployment, nepotism and a sense of growing disorder -- that has taken centre stage.