Indian Household Spending Patterns Shift as Food’s Share Falls to 32.82%: SBI Report

Consumer spending patterns among Indian households are changing, with food accounting for just 32.82% of total household expenditure, while nearly 67% is spent on other goods and services. At the same time, families are increasingly prioritising protein-rich foods, fruits and vegetables. Although online shopping is gaining popularity, traditional markets remain the preferred choice for many households buying fresh produce. According to the State Bank of India’s (SBI) research report, India’s Consumption Journey, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana also show distinct trends in food consumption, LPG usage and access to food security schemes. Among the selected protein-rich food items, Sikkim recorded the highest average monthly household expenditure at ₹1,776, followed by Andhra Pradesh at ₹979 and Telangana at ₹959. Odisha reported the lowest spending at ₹656.

The report also found that LPG is the primary cooking fuel for 87.8% of households in Andhra Pradesh and 84.4% in Telangana. In Telangana, 16.3% of total food expenditure goes towards meals prepared by hotels and other food outlets or ready-to-eat items, the highest share among states. Households with more elderly members spend more on milk, fruits and vegetables, while those with more children allocate a larger share to milk products and ready-to-eat food. Nationally, 45.6% of households use online platforms for at least one consumer purchase or payment. However, food purchases account for only 7.10% of online spending, compared with 39.68% for consumer goods and services. Online purchases also account for 19.97% of clothing expenditure and 12.05% of footwear expenditure.