Now and Then

Updated : Jan 22, 2009

Bitter sweet

On an average, burfi prices have risen by more than 11% every year in the past 17 years.

Updated : Jan 10, 2009

Sweet spot

Sixteen years ago, there were barely two or three fruit drink manufacturers in India. Today, there are more than a dozen brands vying for shelf space.

Updated : Dec 26, 2008

Lather low

Heightened competition in the wash-care segment has helped keep the prices down. For consumers, there is choice at every price point.

Updated : Dec 12, 2008

Cup o' costs

In India instant noodles aren’t the cheapest of foods though they are considered convenient by millions of mothers and young, working professionals.

Updated : Nov 30, 2008

Prices on a roll

Car-owners will feel the pinch because tyres need to be replaced after every 50,000 km or so.

Updated : Nov 14, 2008

High rise

Real estate prices are witnessing a correction but there has been no let up in the high cost of construction. The prices of almost all building materials have risen sharply in the past few years.

Updated : Oct 31, 2008

Bitter brew

The falling production and rising exports of tea have pushed up the prices in the domestic market.

Updated : Oct 3, 2008

While the prices of many food grains and cereals have doubled in the past two decades, those of baby food have increased nearly four times. But most young parents don’t mind paying more for this “essential” item.

Updated : Sep 19, 2008

Fowl play

Eggs are not only an important source of nutrition for many people in urban India, but are a key ingredient in bakery products and processed foods.

Updated : Sep 6, 2008

Freeze on prices

Though there has been a marginal increase in the price of a fridge, there has been a significant improvement in product quality and technology used.

Updated : Aug 22, 2008

Foamy rise

If you have been focusing on fuel and food inflation, scan your shopping bill more closely.

Updated : Aug 8, 2008

Cup of woes

The consumers of coffee far outnumber the investors in this commodity. For them, the price depends to a large extent on where they have it—at home or a trendy cafe.

Updated : Jul 25, 2008

Tough lesson

Depending on how you look at it, the education of your child is both an investment and an expenditure. The sharp rise in its cost underlines the need to include this future expense in your financial planning.

Updated : Jul 11, 2008

Sweet spot

While the prices of almost all food items, especially food grains and cereals, have risen sharply in the past 10 years, sugar prices have remained relatively stable.

Updated : Jun 27, 2008

High teak

The prices of things you require post-construction to make your house liveable have also shot up. Here’s one such thing—teak wood.

Updated : Jun 13, 2008

Flying low

The drive from home to office may have become costlier, but the flight to London (or anywhere else in the world) is now cheaper.

Updated : May 30, 2008

Getting a bit cheap

There are products that keep getting cheaper and better. But nothing beats personal computers in delivering the twin benefits of falling prices and rising quality year after year.

Updated : May 16, 2008

Cool on the pocket

Here's a statistic that should make it easier to cope with the scorching summer months. Competitive pressures and cheaper imports have brought down prices of air conditioners significantly in the past 10 years.<br />

Updated : May 3, 2008

Fare gets fair

This is one trend which has already shown signs of reversing. Competition from low-cost airlines has forced the railways to reduce AC I, II and III-class fares for three consecutive years.

Updated : Apr 18, 2008

The rise of rice

Last fortnight we told you how wheat prices had risen in the past. The situation is no different when it comes to the other major foodgrain in India.

Updated : Apr 4, 2008

Grain of truth

Food grains (wheat and rice) have only a 5% weightage in the wholesale price index but being an item of every day consumption, even a small rise in their prices affects the household budget. Wheat flour (atta) prices have more than doubled in the past 14 years.<br /> <br />