The Budget does precious
little for you. Still, you can thank the FM
for not making it worse. On the face of it,
even though measures like a higher threshold
of income tax, or excise cut on petrol may appear
to be consumer friendly, the truth is that the
hapless consumer does not have much to look
forward to. For the cuts announced in certain
product categories are largely offset by new
levies - such as an additional 1% education
cess.
Sweeten your cuppa: Feeling
the pinch of soaring prices? Well, at least
you won't have to dig deeper into your pockets
for buying sugar. Retail price of the sweetener
will not be upwardly mobile than the current
rate of about Rs 15 / kg. The sugar lobby is
not happy, though.
Chill out! AC, fridge won't
cost more: It has not come down, but at least
it has not gone up. The flat screen TV you wanted
to own is still within your reach. So are the
double-door refrigerator and the AC. The prices
of consumer durables will remain unchanged as
the Budget has virtually left this sector untouched,
for better or worse.
Just two minutes! This
budget-sop is for the new-age consumer who is
hard-pressed for time to cook, and who lives
on instant food mixes (IFMs). Thanks to the
complete exemption from excise duty for all
IFMs, these quick-fix meals will now come cheaper.
This largely unorganised sector which includes
branded players like ITC, MTR, Gits, etc is
expected to pass on the excise benefits to customers.
The move to fully exempt
biscuits (of price Rs 50 / kg) should make the
bikki you dip in your tea cheaper. But the high
end products like Marie and cream biscuits will
not be so lucky. Condensed milk, ice cream,
preparations of meat, fish and poultry, pasta
and yeast are to be fully exempt from excise
duty. You also get concessional rates on all
LPG stoves without any value limit. So go for
a stove of your choice, without the gas agency
sitting on your head.
