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<ul><li>Government-owned oil companies have increased <keyword id="51661" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="cooking-gas">cooking gas</keyword> prices by ₹100 in December 2020. </li><li>This is the biggest monthly hike in cooking gas prices yet. </li><li>As a result of the latest price hike, a 14.2 kg <keyword id="644335" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="LPG-Gas">LPG gas</keyword> cylinder in Delhi will now cost ₹694. </li><li>Amongst the major cities and state capitals, cooking gas prices are the highest in Patna at ₹792. </li><li>There is no official information on what happens to cooking gas subsidy benefits. </li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indian-government-will-no-longer-pay-out-direct-benefit-transfer-for-cooking-gas-subsidy-eliminated-as-oil-prices-fall/articleshow/77872369.cms">Check out the latest news and updates on Business Insider.</a> </li></ul>Government-owned oil companies have increased cooking gas prices by ₹100 in December 2020. The cooking gas prices have been hiked by ₹50 two times in the last 15 days, which is the biggest price hike in a single month yet. As a result of the latest price hike, consumers in Delhi will now have to pay ₹694 per cylinder (14.2 kg). In Hyderabad, a 14.2 kg gas cylinder now costs ₹746.5. New LPG gas cylinder prices in major cities of India <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">City </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">December 2020 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">November 2020 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">New Delhi </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹694 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹594 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Mumbai </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹694 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹594 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Kolkata </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹720.50 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹620.50 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Chennai </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹710 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹610 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Bengaluru </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹697 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹597 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Hyderabad </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹746.50 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹646.50 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Gurgaon </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹703 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹603 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Patna </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹792 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.5pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.5pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:0pt 5.75pt 0pt 5.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹692 </td></tr></tbody></table> Note: Prices as on December 17, 2020 In the first week of December or late November, cooking gas prices in Delhi and Hyderabad were ₹594 and ₹646.5, respectively. Cooking gas prices remain the highest in Patna, at ₹792. It is worth noting that these price hikes apply to both subsidized as well as non-subsidized gas cylinders. If you are eligible for the subsidy, you will have to pay the increased prices on booking a cylinder now. We have verified the same on the Indian Oil website. What will happen to my LPG gas subsidy? Consumers who are eligible and have opted for gas subsidy might see a proportionate increase in their subsidies. However, exact details and an official confirmation in this regard is not available yet. Under the subsidy scheme, households in India can buy a maximum of 12 LPG cylinders per year. These consumers have to buy gas cylinders at the full price first, and the subsidy amount is then credited to the consumer’s bank account by the government. In September this year, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indian-government-will-no-longer-pay-out-direct-benefit-transfer-for-cooking-gas-subsidy-eliminated-as-oil-prices-fall/articleshow/77872369.cms">government eliminated cooking gas subsidies </a>as a fall in oil prices and increase in cooking gas prices brought parity in the market and subsidized prices. With the market prices increasing again, it remains to be seen if the government increases subsidy benefits as well. Crude oil prices have increased steeply since October Since October, crude oil prices have seen a steep increase, forcing the oil companies to hike prices of petrol and diesel, according to an ET <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/oil-gas/oil-companies-hike-cooking-gas-price-by-rs-50-per-cylinder-for-the-second-time-in-a-fortnight/articleshow/79760972.cms">report</a>. In the last one month, petrol prices have been hiked 14 times, increasing by 2.8%. The last time petrol prices were this high was in 2018 when prices hit ₹91.39 per liter in Mumbai and ₹84.06 in Delhi. Current petrol prices in Mumbai and Delhi are ₹90.34 and ₹83.71, respectively. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indian-government-will-no-longer-pay-out-direct-benefit-transfer-for-cooking-gas-subsidy-eliminated-as-oil-prices-fall/articleshow/77872369.cms">Indian government will no longer pay out direct benefit transfer for cooking gas — subsidy eliminated as oil prices fall</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/bpcl-cooking-gas-customers-will-continue-getting-subsidy-post-privatisation-but-government-will-reimburse-the-cost/articleshow/77929623.cms">BPCL cooking gas customers will continue getting subsidy post privatisation but government will not reimburse the cost</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/petrol-is-less-than-a-rupee-away-from-being-more-expensive-than-it-has-ever-been-for-indian-consumers/articleshow/79601841.cms">Petrol is less than a rupee away from being more expensive than it has ever been for Indian consumers</a>

Cooking gas prices hiked by ₹100 this month – check what happens to subsidies

<ul><li>Oil marketing companies <keyword id="44555" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bpcl" source="Orion">BPCL</keyword>, <keyword id="6362419" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hpcl" source="Orion">HPCL</keyword>, <keyword id="6354733" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ioc" source="Orion">IOC</keyword> have raised <keyword id="659816" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cooking-gas-prices" source="Orion">cooking gas prices</keyword> by ₹15 a cylinder.</li><li>This comes after the government hiked the prices of natural gas by 62%, the first time in two years.</li><li>Experts in the field believe the situation could get worse to an extent that <keyword id="505706" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lpg-prices" source="Orion">LPG prices</keyword> could hike by ₹100.</li></ul>Oil marketing companies BPCL, HPCL, IOC have raised cooking gas prices by ₹15 a cylinder. The new price for each cylinder of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) will be ₹899.50 for the 14.2 kilogram (kg) cylinder. The new rate for a 5 kg domestic cylinder stands at ₹502. In September, oil marketing companies had raised the prices of non-subsidized LPG cylinders by ₹25. This week cooking gas prices i.e piped natural gas (PNG) have risen by ₹2 to ₹32.67 per standard cubic meter of gas. This comes after the government hiked the prices of natural gas by 62%, the first time in two years. "Higher gas prices might slightly hurt the competitiveness of compressed natural gas (CNG) business as city gas distribution companies (Gujarat Gas, Indraprastha Gas) might have to hike CNG price by 10-12% to completely pass on the higher cost of domestic gas,” said analysts at JM Financial. It could get worse because some unnamed sources from the oil market companies like Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL told <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/major-omcs-step-off-lpg-price-hike-pedal-absorb-rs-100-per-cylinder-121100600099_1.html">Business Standard </a>that the headroom for the hike is as much as ₹100 for a 14.2 kg cylinder. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/up-government-to-give-free-tablets-smartphones-to-students-pursuing-higher-education/articleshow/86801328.cms">UP government to give free tablets, smartphones to students pursuing higher education</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/supreme-court-extends-stay-on-criminal-proceedings-against-azim-premji-others/articleshow/86801060.cms">Supreme Court extends stay on criminal proceedings against Azim Premji, others</a>

Cooking gas prices have been hiked to ₹899.50 per cylinder and it could get worse

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Tear gas and pepper spray are being deployed on protesters around the country.</li><li>The products are generally safe, but can prompt asthma attacks, coughing, and sneezing, which can all spread viruses around.</li><li>The best thing to do if you're hit by tear gas or pepper spray is to pour lots of water on the injury and seek fresh air. </li></ul>Tear gas and pepper spray have both been used to quell crowds over the past week as they march in cities across the US to protest <keyword id="53374" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Police-Brutality">police brutality</keyword>. The two substances, known officially as "agent CS" and "agent OC" don't typically cause permanent injuries, but they are both acidic substances which are harmful to people's <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">health</keyword> — and could be especially so during the coronavirus pandemic. When tear gas or pepper spray are dispersed in a crowd, it can lead to mass chaos as people scramble for fresh air. That means people are running, screaming, touching each other, and coughing, all of which can easily spread a virus."It's very, very irritating to the upper respiratory passages, and it's going to make people cough and sneeze," Dr. Dean Winslow, an infectious disease physician at Stanford Health Care, told Insider. Some people have experienced <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5096012/">coughing and chest pains for days and weeks</a> after exposure to the chemicals. Tear gas and pepper spray can be especially dangerous for people with asthma and other reactive lung disorders since the irritants can prompt an attack. <h2>In some cases, tear gas and pepper spray can cause serious long-term damage</h2>In addition to the lung, nose, and eye irritation that the chemical irritants can cause, there is a risk of impalement, and in <a href="https://www.insider.com/tear-gas-banned-from-war-why-dangerous-how-to-neutralize-2020-6">extreme cases even death</a>, from the containers that the substances are ejected from. One protester recently had his <a href="https://www.insider.com/tear-gas-banned-from-war-why-dangerous-how-to-neutralize-2020-6">eye taken out by a tear gas canister</a>, and pepper balls, if targeted at a person's face or neck, can also do serious harm.When deployed at very close range to the eyes, pepper spray can lead to nerve damage or corneal erosion, while large quantities of tear gas can burn the skin.Usually, though, the chemicals just hurt for a while. Howie Mell, an emergency room physician in Missouri who is a spokesperson for the American College of Emergency Physicians, says that being tear gassed (as he was once during a SWAT training) felt like "one of the longest 15 minutes of my life." If you are hit by tear gas, the most important thing to do is leave the area where the irritant is spreading and seek fresh air. Then, rinse out your eyes with cool water, making sure to take out contact lenses, which can trap more irritant underneath them. Wash your hands and your body, too."In practice, really the only two things that reliably work is time, or high volumes of water, and just lots and lots of it," Mell said. "The problem being — as far as in the street, so to speak, you need more water than you're going to have." <div type="image" title="what you should do tear gas 2x1" height="1001" width="2005" msid="76186378" hostid="261"></div><h2>Milk isn't sterile, so rinsing your eyes with it could lead to an infection</h2>Pepper spray, or mace, is slightly different from tear gas. It employs the exact same active chemical as what's found in cayenne peppers, and since it is an oil, "even small concentrations of it can penetrate the skin and enter mucous membranes, causing severe and prolonged discomfort," according to the <a href="https://www.aclu.org/fact-sheet/chemical-irritants-fact-sheet">American Civil Liberties Union</a>.That's why some protesters carry around bottles of antacid mixed in milk, hoping to neutralize these acidic chemicals. "That comes from folks who cook with very hot peppers," Mell said, who "very often keep milk on hand to neutralize the peppers." While experts don't think the creamy mixture is necessarily harmful, and that it might even help a little in the case of pepper spray, it won't do much for a tear gas attack. It also may not be a good idea to rinse your eyes out with milk because it's not sterile and could prompt an infection. Instead, just keep dousing your eyes. Winslow even suggested grabbing a nearby garden hose. "Unfortunately, there really isn't an easier way to do it," Mell said. There is not much you can do to stop the burning, either. Instead, "allow the tears to happen," or even blink rapidly to flush the eyes out, the doctor said."Do not rub your eyes, do not," he said. "Let your eyes tear up, let your eyes wash themselves, as best you can. And then as soon as possible, wash with copious amounts of water."With time, and lots of fluid, most injuries will subside in <a href="https://www.aclu.org/fact-sheet/chemical-irritants-fact-sheet">around 90 minutes</a>. If they don't, Mell urged people not to shy away from visiting their local emergency department."If you've gotten exposed, and it's seeming to last longer than it should, or you're afraid that you're suffering an allergic reaction, or an asthma reaction, please don't hesitate to come to the ER," he said. "This is a strenuous time that we're living in for everyone. We just want to make sure that people know that we're definitely there to help." <ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/tear-gas-banned-from-war-why-dangerous-how-to-neutralize-2020-6">Tear gas is banned from war — but police still shoot it at protesters, who cough and bleed as a result. At least one has lost an eye.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/coronavirus-and-protests-what-experts-are-saying-about-virus-spread-2020-6">Coronavirus, protests, and you: Here's what experts say about how the virus might spread as more people demonstrate</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/tear-gas-what-to-do-when-exposed-2020-6">What to do if you are hit with tear gas: seek high ground, find fresh air, and rinse off with cool water</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/why-rubber-bullets-dangerous-what-to-do-if-hit-2020-6">Rubber bullets can cause blindness, fractures, and organ injury. Here's what to do if you get hit.</a></li></ul>

How tear gas and pepper spray affect the body, and what to do if you've been hit

<ul class="summary-list"><li>US consumers are experiencing the steepest food inflation in more than <a href="https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2022/consumer-prices-up-9-1-percent-over-the-year-ended-june-2022-largest-increase-in-40-years.htm">40 years</a>. </li><li>The inflationary gap between restaurants and grocery stores hasn't been this large since the 1970s. </li></ul>The conventional wisdom is that avoiding take out saves you money — but with inflation raging, the easier dining option can also be the cheaper one. That's because consumer prices are increasing at grocery stores faster than at restaurants. They <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-report-july-gas-prices-cpi-energy-costs-recession-fears-2022-8">increased</a> 13.1% year-over-year in July at stores, and only 7.6% at restaurants, according to the Labor Department. It's the biggest inflationary gap between restaurants and grocery stores since the 1970s. "High food inflation is positively correlated to fast-food same-store sales, as people see a relative oasis of non-inflation in the value menus," Evercore ISI analyst David Palmer <a href="https://www.barrons.com/articles/food-prices-remain-high-4-restaurant-stocks-that-are-still-good-bets-51660155108">told</a> Barron's last week. Even as restaurant prices surge, fast food chains are still proving popular. Executives at McDonalds, Burger King, Cheesecake Factory, and Applebee's have recently told investors in earnings calls and presentations that customers have greater incentives to eat out these days, The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/restaurant-meals-become-a-relative-bargain-as-grocery-prices-soar-11660561200?mod=hp_lead_pos12">reported</a> this week. "We need to be delivering great food and great service and great pricing even in a tough environment," said José Cil, chief executive of Burger King owner Restaurant Brands International. Cil also <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/04/burger-king-parent-says-more-customers-are-redeeming-coupons-and-loyalty-rewards.html">reported</a> earlier this month that more Burger King customers are redeeming coupons and loyalty rewards to subsidize meals. The move toward bargain-hunting at restaurant chains comes even as those chains reduce the value of their offerings, as inflation tightens their budgets. "We've seen companies tweaking their value menus across the board," Michael Schaefer, the global lead for food and beverage at market researcher Euromonitor International, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/06/higher-prices-skimpier-portions-apps-fast-food-deals-are-changing.html">told</a> CNBC this month. "We're seeing fewer items total, limited price increases, smaller items."<h2>Inflation is getting better, but not at grocery stores </h2>Even with less bang for your buck, restaurant chains are betting that they'll still make a more wallet-friendly alternative to home cooking — even though the inflation forecast is looking brighter overall recently, food prices still aren't in a good place. US consumers are experiencing the steepest food inflation in more than <a href="https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2022/consumer-prices-up-9-1-percent-over-the-year-ended-june-2022-largest-increase-in-40-years.htm">40 years</a>, with grocery costs having risen 10% or greater annually since March, the greatest jump recorded by the Labor Department since 1981. Inflation cooled overall in July as gasoline prices fell, but still remains high, with consumer prices up <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-report-july-gas-prices-cpi-energy-costs-recession-fears-2022-8">8.5%</a> from a year ago. The CPI's food-price gauge rose 1.1% over the month in July, growing from June's 1% gain. Grocery costs climbed 1.3%, also accelerating from the prior month's pace. While prospects for some food commodities like wheat and corn have gotten better since last month, the latest CPI report suggests food costs won't fall as quickly as gas prices have, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-report-july-gas-prices-cpi-energy-costs-recession-fears-2022-8">as reported by Insider's Ben Winck</a>.That's changing the way Americans have been approaching their grocery shopping, if they're even doing it at all. Approximately 95% of US households <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-inflation-is-changing-grocery-shopping-coupons-sales-frozen-foods-2022-6">said</a> they were making changes to their shopping habits to account for inflation, according to a Numerator survey of over 10,000 consumers in April. According to a May <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-inflation-is-changing-grocery-shopping-coupons-sales-frozen-foods-2022-6">survey</a> from the Food Industry Association (FMI), 21% of consumers are purchasing less meat, and 14% are buying less produce. Some shoppers are switching out those pricier items for more frozen and canned meat, they told FMI, with a higher percentage of shoppers with household income under $40,000 making the switch.And as chains are betting, consumers might find their way to drive-thru windows instead.

Inflation has slammed Americans' wallets at the grocery store — but restaurants could be a surprising winner

New Delhi, Mar 18 () The price of subsidised cooking gas (LPG) has been hiked by Rs 35.55 per cylinder in the last five months, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Wednesday.As per government policy, LPG all over the country is available only at market price. However, households are entitled to buying 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each at a subsidised rate in a year. The government transfers the subsidy amount directly into the bank accounts which the beneficiaries use to buy LPG at the market price.The subsidised LPG price has gone up by Rs 35.55 per cylinder since October.In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Pradhan said domestic subsidised LPG in Delhi was priced at Rs 538.95 per cylinder on October 1, 2019, and this month it costs Rs 574.50.He did not give any reason for the price increase.While non-subsidised or market priced LPG has varied from month to month based on benchmark international rates, subsidised LPG prices have been raised every month by Rs 4 per cylinder plus taxes.These rates, however, are no longer published by the oil market companies.To the question of whether state-owned oil marketing companies had stopped publishing subsidised gas prices, he said the price of non-subsidised domestic LPG is available at the websites of oil companies. In reply to another question, Pradhan said non-subsidised LPG cylinder costs Rs 805.50.Household consumers are getting a subsidy of Rs 231 per 14.2-kg cylinder, he said.So, a household buys LPG at Rs 805.50 per cylinder. After accounting for Rs 231 that he or she gets as government subsidy, the payout is Rs 574.50."The prices of petroleum products in the country are linked to the price of the respective products in the international market. However, the Government continues to modulate the effective price to consumers for subsidized domestic LPG and the consumers get the product at the subsidised rate. "The subsidy on subsidized domestic LPG increase/ decrease with the increase/ decrease in the product price in the international market and decision of Government on subsidy," he said.Pradhan had on July 31, 2017, stated in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha that the government had ordered state-run oil companies to raise subsidised cooking gas (LPG) prices by Rs 4 per cylinder every month to eliminate all the subsidies."Public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) were authorised to increase the price of subsidised domestic LPG cylinder by Rs 2 per cylinder (14.2-kg) per month (excluding VAT) with effect from July 1, 2016," he had said.Oil companies had hiked LPG rates on 10 occasions since that go-ahead."The government vide its order dated May 30, 2017, has again authorised OMCs to continue to increase the effective price of subsidised domestic LPG by Rs 4 per cylinder effective June 1, 2017, per month (excluding VAT) till the reduction of government subsidy to 'nil'," he had stated.There are over 26 crore customers of subsidised LPG in the country. These include 8 crore poor women who were given free connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna. ANZ MRMR

Subsidised LPG price hiked by Rs 35.55 in 5 months: Pradhan

New Delhi, Feb 13 () The oil ministry on Thursday justified the steep Rs 144.50 per cylinder hike in cooking gas LPG prices, saying the rates are based on the international market price that had increased over 26 per cent last month. It also said domestic consumers have been largely insulated from the hike by way of the large increase in subsidy. "The LPG price is derived based on the international market price for the previous month," the ministry said in a statement. "On account of a sharp increase in the international price of LPG during January 2020 from USD 448 per ton to USD 567 a tonne, there has been a hike of Rs 144.50 for a 14.2 kg cylinder," it added. The ministry said the increase in price for 26.12 crore out of total LPG user base of 27.76 crore is borne by the government by enhancing the subsidy component. The government gives a subsidy to LPG users under two different heads -- direct benefit transfer or PAHAL for domestic users and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries. "While the price of domestic non-subsidised LPG cylinder has increased from Rs 714 per cylinder to Rs 858.50 per cylinder, the subsidy amount to subsidised consumers in Delhi has increased from Rs 153.86 per cylinder to Rs 291.48 per cylinder. "In view of the subsidised price determined by the government, the subsidised LPG consumers are insulated from the volatility of LPG prices in the international market," the statement said. For the PMUY consumers, the subsidy borne by the government has increased from Rs 174.86 per cylinder to Rs 312.48 per cylinder. "Therefore, the impact of the price hike is mostly borne by the government by enhancing the subsidy for subsidized and PMUY consumers," it said. The price hike announced by oil companies on Wednesday was the steepest in six years. In January 2014, prices had gone up by Rs 220 per cylinder to Rs 1,241. Domestic LPG users are entitled to buy 12 bottles of 14.2-kg each at subsidised rates in a year. Beyond this limit, consumers have to purchase at market price. After accounting for the subsidy that is transferred directly into the bank accounts of LPG users, a 14.2-kg cylinder would cost Rs 567.02 for domestic users and Rs 546.02 for PMUY users. The government gave out eight crore free LPG connections to poor women under PMUY to increase coverage of environment-friendly fuel in kitchens. Normally, LPG rates are revised on the 1st of every month but this time it took almost two weeks for the revision to take place. The ministry's statement did not say why the revision was pushed by 12 days. ANZ RAM

Oil Min justifies LPG price hike to spike in global rates

<ul><li>Millions of Indians are waiting with bated breath to hear from the country's Prime Minister on how he plans to tackle the coronavirus challenge. </li><li>WhatsApp groups are rife with rumours of a possible shutdown that may extend into months but there is no official word on it yet.</li><li>In case the government orders a lockdown, complete or even a partial one, a big majority of India's population that lives hand-to-mouth may be plunged into starvation and helplessness.</li><li>However, the government has the 'direct benefit transfer' mechanism to give the millions of country's poor survival money until the Covid-19 pandemic is dealt with on war footing. </li><li>This could be similar to, albeit costly, what the Trump administration has proposed ⁠— giving out cash to the needy ⁠— as the US economy has come to a grinding halt.</li></ul>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is planning his first big address to the nation as the Asia's third-largest economy <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-records-highest-1-day-spurt-in-coronavirus-cases-184-infected-15-cured-and-3-dead/articleshow/74703827.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">recorded the sharpest single-day rise</a> in Covid-19 Coronavirus infections. The total number of people infected are 184⁠— 15 have been cured and three have died⁠— and WhatsApp groups are rife with rumours of a possible lockdown. Here's a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronvirus-in-india-map-and-data/articleshow/74666694.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">visual guide to coronavirus pandemic</a> has been progressing in India. Soft loans and tax breaks are good but not enough to tide over the current situation that is both a health hazard and an economic crisis of epic proportions. Majority of India’s population still lives hand-to-mouth and it needs cash to survive and a total lockdown, or a partial one, may leave them starving and helpless. The experience in India is likely to be very different from other countries like Italy, France, and China that have taken similar stringent steps. 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Day six of Italy&amp;#39;s nationwide coronavirus lockdown, in Turin" msid="74709694" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;A woman wearing a protective face mask walks her dog, on the sixth day of an unprecedented lockdown across of all Italy imposed to slow the outbreak of coronavirus, in Turin, Italy, March 15, 2020. REUTERS/Massimo Pinca&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



























 Salaries will still reach the bank account of corporate employees who work from home but construction workers, domestic helps, sanitation workers in private establishments, daily wage labourers in small shops and factories, film production crews across countries, and many more like them who account for nearly 90% of India’s population cannot expect the same. The good thing is, India already has mechanisms like the ‘Direct Benefit Transfer’ (DBT), whereby the government can deposit cash directly into the bank accounts, to avoid an added layer of starvation to the unfolding health emergency. In 2018-19, over 1.23 billion Indians, of the estimated population of over 1.3 billion, received at least one government subsidy deposited directly into their bank accounts. 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Direct benefit transfer" msid="74708184" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In 2018-19, over 1.23 billion Indians, of the estimated population of over 1.3 billion, received at least one government subsidy directly into their bank accounts. This can be used to give the poor cash in hand in case there is a lockdown.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>


























 This may be the time to use the scheme to allay fear and famine. People are not going to buy fertilisers or cooking gas cylinders, but the window can be used to provide cash to those who need it the most. This move may be similar to US President Donald Trump's administration's proposal to send out cheques to millions of Americans who live from one payday to another, and find themselves stranded by the unprecedented economic impact of coronavirus pandemic. A back of the envelope calculation shows that if these 1.23 billion people in India, who are already in the DBT database, were to be considered for a handout from the government, the cost will be enormous but necessary to survive a possible lockdown. That will still leave a lot of people out from the 1.3 billion-plus population but this can be the starting point of a conversation around how the stimulus can be designed. The number of beneficiaries may be much smaller if the government goes for targeted shutdowns in smaller regions affected by coronavirus. <table style="width: 385pt;"> </colgroup> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="3" class="xl68" style="border-right:1.0pt solid black; height:40.5pt;width:385pt">The average household expenditure in India was ₹1,501 per month, according to National Sample Survey</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl71" style="height: 30pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Period</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; width: 186pt;">Cost to the government if it were to handout survival money</td> <td class="xl72" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">India's fiscal deficit</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl73" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">1 month</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">₹36,924 crore</td> <td class="xl77" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">₹7.03 lakh crore</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl73" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">2 months</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">₹73,848 crore</td> <td class="xl77" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl73" style="height: 15pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">3 months</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; width: 186pt;">₹1.1 lakh crore</td> <td class="xl77" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" class="xl74" style="border-right:1.0pt solid black; height:27.75pt;width:385pt">*The beneficiaries are estimated at 1.23 billion (assuming 5 people per household) who availed at least one direct subsidy transfer at the end of March 2019</td> </tr></tbody></table> It is also likely that there may be one than beneficiary from one family recorded in the 1.23 billion. For instance, one member of a family may have received money for rural employment guarantee while another member may have availed the cooking gas subsidy. If these overlaps were to be weeded out, the burden on the government will be much lesser. A total lockdown will hurt these people the most “Small businesses and low-income households do not have the cash flows, balance sheets or savings to sustain the downturn in business or loss of income for a few months. As such, governments should look at a large fiscal stimulus,” a Kotak Institutional Equities report said. 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="sectors" msid="74709055" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Soft loans and tax breaks are good but not enough. Majority of India&amp;#8217;s population still lives hand-to-mouth and it needs cash to survive and a total lockdown may leave them starving and helpless. &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>


























 According to the Kotak report, the biggest impact will be three segments of the population: 1. Small businesses in retailing, tourism and transportation, 2. Self-employed workers in the ‘gig’ economy, and 3. Contract workers in the informal economy. So while a stimulus is necessary, it's design will determine the effectiveness. There may be a need to stop the spread of the virus even at the cost of shutting down the economy and the society temporarily. However, nearly 9 out of 10 people are employed in an unorganised industry with low wages and savings and no social security. A shock-and-awe treatment like an unexpected lockdown may be counter productive without a solution for those who do not have liquidity to survive. 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="pvt jobs" msid="74709287" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;A shock-and-awe treatment like an unexpected lockdown may be counter productive without a solution for those who do not have liquidity to survive.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>


























 <a href="https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/india-mulls-easier-loan-tax-rules-to-help-economy-endure-virus?utm_campaign=website&amp;utm_source=sendgrid&amp;utm_medium=newsletter" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Reports suggest that PM Modi is likely to announce measures</a> to extend loan tenors and relaxing bad debt norms for small businesses, and remove goods and services tax on hotels and other players in the tourism sector. While these are necessary steps, more may have to be done to ensure the loneliness of a lockdown doesn’t drive people crazy. In case there is total shutdown, cash-in-hand will be a bigger problem for people than taxation as millions of Indians still depend on daily wages for livelihood. What India can learn from the world Donald Trump's administration has already gone to the House of Representatives with a plan to give a $1,000 or more cheque to middle-class and poor American families as part of a $850 billion economic stimulus. This is many times the size of the money pumped into the US economy right after the global financial crisis of 2008. 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Donald Trump, NAT Trump" msid="74709407" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;President Donald Trump speaks during briefing on coronavirus in the Brady press briefing room at the White House, Saturday, March 14, 2020, in Washington. Photo/Alex Brandon)&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



























 India already deposits money directly into bank accounts India already has a direct benefit transfer mechanism for rural India as well as millions of India’s middle class and poor families in the cities who get their subsidies ⁠— fertiliser subsidy and cooking gas subsidy are examples ⁠— and money can be transferred to those dependent on daily wages for survival if there were to be a lockdown. This will come at a huge cost to the exchequer but the financial burden cannot be deterrent at this point. Giving money is not enough While addressing the nation, the Prime Minister, who is famous for his oration, must ensure that the narrative is one of hope and not despair. No amount of emergency cash can stop the panic that a foreboding tone can cause. There are varying views on the effectiveness of Indian government’s response to coronavirus. India has been, without doubt, relatively quick to shut down borders and enable screening of possible carriers travelling from other countries. There may be some valid criticism of the depth of testing of the local populace⁠— the fear is that not enough people have been tested to assess the real spread within India⁠. But that complaint will fall at the doorstep of nearly every government on the planet right now. People at large are still not prepared for a lockdown The coronavirus pandemic has proven to be an unprecedented health crisis that has brought the global economy to a grinding halt and the repercussions may be felt for a long time. People are shocked enough and there is enough anecdotal evidence that the population has not figured out what level of preparedness is ideal. 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="coronavirus impact in Delhi" msid="74709852" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;People in the congested areas near Delhi&amp;#39;s Jama Masjid. The eateries in this areas are famous for their meat-based delicacies. The number of patrons have reduced still a large of number of people could be seen venturing out amidst an escalating fear of coronavirus infections. &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>

























 Even Mumbai, the country’s financial capital, continued to see people in close proximity without protection in public places until the day before ⁠— people could be seen in swarms at roadside eateries in many parts ⁠— despite consistent messaging both from authorities as well as the media. Prime Minister Modi should focus on motivating people to keep themselves safe and assure that families will not be plunged into starvation while the government expedites steps to test, isolate, and hopefully, cure coronavirus patients in India sooner than later. For millions of people to cooperate with a lockdown in a relatively young and less-mature democracy like India, people need to know the government has a plan to deal with the emergency now, as well as a vision to revive the economy and protect their livelihoods when the coronavirus storm subsides; and that too, will entail a huge cost. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/rupee-records-a-new-low-trading-at-75-against-dollar-for-the-first-time/articleshow/74707789.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Rupee records a new low, trading at ₹75 against dollar for the first time</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/an-indians-shopping-guide-during-the-coronavirus/articleshow/74703488.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">An Indian’s shopping guide during the coronavirus pandemic</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/flipkart-delivery-workers-to-get-leave-with-full-pay-if-quarantined/articleshow/74709093.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Flipkart delivery workers to get leave with full pay if quarantined</a>

The rough cost of handing out cash to millions of Indians to survive the lockdown

You can’t apply for subsidized LPG if you are earning Rs. 10 lakh or more a year, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=oil+ministry">oil ministry</a> said on Monday. 
 
The new scheme will begin since Jan 1st 2016, and will apply to people even if they have issued cooking gas in the name of the spouse. Currently there are 16.35 crore cooking gas connections in the country. 
 
The government had earlier successfully implemented the PAHAL scheme, which transferred cooking gas subsidy directly to bank accounts of over 14 crore customers. 
 
"The subsidy saved from the 'GiveitUp' campaign is being utilised for providing new connections to the BPL families under the 'Giveback' campaign to help provide the clean fuel to poor households and replace kerosene, coal, fuel wood and cow dung burnt in kitchens," the ministry said in a statement. 
 
It also said that consumers in the higher income bracket should buy <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=LPG+cylinders">LPG cylinders</a> at the market price. 
 
"Therefore, the government has decided that the benefit of the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=LPG+subsidy">LPG subsidy</a> will not be available for LPG consumers if the consumer or his/her spouse had taxable income of more than Rs 10,00,000/- during the previous financial year computed as per the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Income+Tax+Act">Income Tax Act</a>, 1961," the ministry said. 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

No LPG subsidy if you earn more than Rs 10
lakhs p.a.

<ul><li>Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a ₹1.7 crore stimulus package to ensure 800 million poor people in India are not affected by the <keyword id="91743" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="lockdown">lockdown</keyword> and its resultant loss of livelihoods. </li><li>There are more than 649 active cases in which 602 were Indians, while 47 are foreigners. </li><li>Six new positive COVID-19 cases surfaced in Rajasthan on Wednesday (March 25), taking the total tally to 38. </li><li>Three persons, with a history of international travel, tested positive for COVID-19 in Goa. </li><li>With 15 new COVID-19 positive cases detected in Maharashtra on Wednesday (March 25), the number of infected people increased to 122 in the state.</li></ul>It is day two of a 21-day lockdown here in India. As the country entered the third and critical phase of the <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">Coronavirus</keyword> pandemic, the Ministry of Health <a href="https://www.mohfw.gov.in/">data</a> shows that it now has 705 infected people; out of which 43 recovered and 13 died. There are more than 649 active cases in which 602 were Indians, while 47 are foreigners. Maha COVID-19 positive cases now 125 With three more COVID-19 positive cases detected on Thursday, the total number of infected persons rose from 124 to 127 in Maharashtra, health officials said. Earlier, the test reports of two persons admitted was found positive followed by one more case detected as positive. The new cases include one each from Mumbai, Thane and Nagpur, and their treatment is currently underway. Mumbai has so far recorded four deaths of COVID-19 patients - two men both 63-years old, a 65-year old and a 68-year old Philippines national. Yesterdays, the state recorded 15 new Covid-19 positive cases. FM Sitharaman announces ₹1.7 crore stimulus package Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a ₹1.7 crore stimulus package to ensure 800 million poor people in India are not affected by the lockdown and its resultant loss of livelihoods. They will be supplied with food grain, pulses, cash and cooking gas for the next three months. “We want to make sure that no one goes hungry,” said Sitharaman in a press conference today (March26). These announcements were made a part of the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana. Delhi Online services for essential goods to be allowed in lockdown Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced that all the shops, factories and online services associated with essential services can operate 24 hours all week, and no additional license was required for it. He said e-commerce companies in Delhi could home deliver essential commodities. Speaking to the media, Kejriwal said the Delhi Police has been asked to allow the person carrying essential items to move without an e-pass. Coronavirus claims its new victim in Gujarat A 70-yr-old man, who was suffering from Coronavirus died in Gujarat. The death toll in the state stands at 3, with 38 infected people. Rajasthan reports six new Coronavirus cases include medical staff Six new positive COVID-19 cases surfaced in Rajasthan on Wednesday (March 25), taking the total tally to 38 so far, health officials confirmed here. Four positive cases were reported from Bhilwara while Jodhpur and Jhunjhunu reported one case each, additional chief secretary, Rohit Kumar Singh said. Out of the four positive cases in Bhilwara, two are staff at a hospital where a doctor had tested positive for the dreaded virus, Singh added. The third positive case in Bhilwara is a patient who was undergoing treatment at the same hospital. The lady who tested positive in Jodhpur travelled with two persons who have already tested positive. She came from Mumbai to Jodhpur on a train in the same coupe along with the other positive cases in a first-class AC coach, Singh said. Three test positive for coronavirus in Goa Three persons, with a history of international travel, tested positive for COVID-19 in Goa, chief minister Pramod Sawant said early on Thursday (March 26). This is the first instance of positive Coronavirus cases in the state. “I have been informed by the state Directorate of Health Services (DHS) that three individuals have been tested positive for #COVID-19 in Goa. We are providing the best healthcare facility to the diagnosed patients,” Sawant tweeted. In a statement issued by the DHS, the three persons aged between 25 and 55 who tested positive for COVID-19 had travelled back from Spain, Australia and the US. They have been quarantined since their return earlier this month. “Their condition is stable,” the DHS statement said. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Mumbai: Passengers wearing masks amid coronavirus outbreak are seen at Internati..." msid="74821693" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Passengers wearing masks amid coronavirus outbreak are seen at International Airport in Mumbai.Photo)(&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>
















 Three-year-old in Hyderabad tests positive for COVID-19 A three-year-old is among two COVID-19 positive cases reported in Telangana on Wednesday, health officials said. The child has recently returned with his parents from Saudi Arabia and has been admitted to a hospital where his condition is stated to be stable. As many as 50 persons with suspected symptoms were brought to different hospitals on Wednesday, taking the cumulative number to 813. In addition to the total lockdown, the state has strengthened surveillance, contact tracing and containment measures against the possible spread of the dreaded disease. Gujarat’s second Covid-19 victim: an Octogenarian woman Gujarat saw its second death due to Coronavirus on Wednesday, after an 85-year-old woman passed away. The 85-year-old woman from Danilimda, Ahmedabad was admitted in the Ahmedabad Civil hospital on March 22 after returning from abroad. She was a comorbid patient with many complications. A 67-year-old man, who was also co-morbid, died in Surat on Sunday. He had been infected locally. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Mumbai: A general view of deserted Nariman Point due to the coronavirus pandemic..." msid="74821679" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;A general view of deserted Nariman Point due to the coronavirus pandemic, in Mumbai. Novel coronavirus cases in India rose to 258 on Saturday after 35 fresh cases were reported in various parts of the country.Photo/Kunal Patil)(&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>

















 Indian government will provide wheat at ₹2 and rice at ₹3 per kilo to poor families Yesterday (March 25), the union minister Prakash Javadekar announced the central’s decision to provide food supplies at subsidized prices. The government will offer wheat at ₹2/kg and rice at ₹3/kg as a relief to poor families during the lockdown. This scheme will aid 80 crore daily wagers and others who lose their jobs and livelihoods during the 21-day lockdown announced by PM Modi. Kerala’s second in Covid-19 race after Maharashtra Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday (March 25) said that nine more positive Coronavirus cases were registered, taking the state’s total to 112. He warned police that he has been given absolute powers to take action against those who violate lockdown norms. “The total number of cases stands at 118, and six of them who were positive have turned negative and have been discharged. Today there are 76,542 people under observation, of which 532 are at various hospitals and the rest at their homes,” he said. Vijayan said of the 118 cases; eight were foreign nationals, 91 had returned from foreign countries, and 19 got it from primary contacts. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/data-of-coronavirus-patients-state-wise-in-india/articleshow/74669748.cms">Coronavirus cases in India state wise</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/topic/coronavirus">Coronavirus News and Updates</a>

Coronavirus in India: 705 infected, 43 recovered and 13 dead on Day2 of lockdown

Welcome to Finance Insider, Business Insider's summary of the top stories of the past 24 hours. Sign up <a href="http://e.businessinsider.com/join/ci/finance-insider-social-first&amp;hash=36afac95fa844948a9f363295d512fca" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here to get the best of Business Insider delivered direct to your inbox</a>. Explosions were reported on Thursday morning at a chemical plant near Houston, Texas, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/oil-refineries-hit-harvey-releasing-chemicals-pollutants-2017-8">which was hit by flooding</a> in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Harvey.The Arkema plant in Crosby, Texas (roughly 25 miles northeast of Houston) produces organic peroxides used to make plastic. The compounds <a href="https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/organic/organic_peroxide.html">are known to be explosive</a>. Amid Harvey's deluge, Arkema lost power, leaving the chemicals un-refrigerated and prone to becoming volatile as they warm. Because the chemicals remain un-refrigerated, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-chemical-plant-exploded-harvey-other-plants-risk-flooding-2017-8">authorities warned that further blasts were likely</a>. Here's the latest from Texas:<ul><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/oil-refineries-hit-harvey-releasing-chemicals-pollutants-2017-8">Oil refineries may have released up to 2 million pounds of chemicals in Harvey's wake</a></li><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-harvey-gas-prices-shortage-2017-8">Gas prices are spiking after the biggest US refinery shuts down</a></li><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-harvey-economic-impact-2017-8">Hurricane Harvey could be the costliest natural disaster in US history - here's how we'll know the true cost</a></li><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-billionaire-warren-buffett-says-hurricane-damage-will-linger-2017-8">BUFFETT: Damage from Harvey will last "for a long time"</a></li><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/houston-george-bush-intercontinental-airport-hobby-and-airport-reopen-2017-8">Houston's airports are back in business</a></li><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-harvey-congress-relief-fund-bill-options-2017-8">Texas and Louisiana will need billions from Congress after Hurricane Harvey - here's how they could get it</a></li><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-harvey-survivors-financial-toll-2017-8">Harvey is subsiding, but for the tens of thousands driven from their homes the financial toll is just beginning</a></li></ul>In other news, Wall Street's on edge about <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-financial-firms-fear-turmoil-over-fraught-us-debt-ceiling-talks-2017-8">Washington's looming debt-ceiling debate</a>. If Congress fails to raise the debt ceiling, it would be "<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/debt-ceiling-raise-financial-crisis-2017-8">more catastrophic to the economy than the 2008 failure of Lehman Brothers</a>."In Wall Street news, Goldman Sachs is looking to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-goldman-plots-return-to-banking-growth-mode-through-hires-investments-2017-8">hire senior dealmakers as part of "a shift towards growth.</a>" And Wells Fargo found 1.4 million <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/wells-fargo-more-fake-accounts-2017-8">more fake accounts than originally discovered</a>.In trading news, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-fastest-traders-on-wall-street-are-in-trouble-2017-8">fastest traders on Wall Street are in trouble</a>. An ETF is launching that tracks GOP interests - <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/point-bridge-gop-stock-tracker-etf-ticker-maga-2017-8">and its ticker is MAGA</a>. And we sat down with the 35-year-old in charge of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/john-tuttle-new-york-stock-exchange-2017-8">attracting companies to go public on the New York Stock Exchange</a>.In other news, hedge funds are cashing in on bitcoin mania - <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/bitcoin-price-surge-leads-to-growth-in-hedge-funds-2017-8">there are now 50 dedicated to cryptocurrencies</a>. And a senator is calling on the FBI to investigate <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sen-tammy-duckworth-calls-on-fbi-to-investigate-carl-icahn-2017-8">billionaire investor and former Trump adviser Carl Icahn</a>.Apple sent out invitations for its next iPhone event. The so-called iPhone 8 is expected to be announced on September 12 <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-iphone-8-announcement-date-2017-8">at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple's new headquarters, Apple Park, in Cupertino, California</a>. A top Apple analyst has one big question for Tim Cook ahead of next month's event - <a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/apple-stock-price-iphone-services-app-store-revenue-analyst-interview-morgan-stanley-2017-8-1002299560">and it has nothing to do with iPhones</a>.Elsewhere in tech:<ul><li><a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/tesla-stock-price-is-rising-after-slashing-prices-on-its-highest-cost-cars-2017-8-1002299556">Tesla is rising after slashing prices on its highest cost cars</a></li><li><a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/snap-stock-price-user-base-will-be-materially-bigger-if-they-do-these-two-things-2017-8-1002299294">TOP ANALYST: There are only 2 things that really matter for Snap's stock</a></li><li><a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/nvidia-stock-price-is-set-to-dominate-the-next-wave-of-blockchain-technology-2017-8-1002297958">RBC: Nvidia is set to dominate the next wave of blockchain technology</a></li><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/uber-new-ceo-comments-all-hands-meeting-2017-8">Uber's new CEO tells the troops in his first all-hands meeting: "What got us here is not what's going to get us to the next level"</a></li><li><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/annotations-for-decoding-shervin-pishevar-uber-letter-2017-8">Here are annotations to decode everything in Shervin Pishevar's epic Uber diatribe</a></li></ul>Lastly, a massive <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/former-ford-family-estate-hamptons-market-poential-record-sale-75-million-2017-8">Hamptons estate that once belonged to the Ford family is on the market for a potentially record-breaking $175 million</a>. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/julia-coronado-ibonds-stocks-different-stories-smarter-2017-8">JULIA CORONADO: Bonds and stocks disagree - 'the bond market is, dare I say it, smarter'</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

What you need to know on Wall Street today

Germany's considering a new tax on meat - but it might not be a model for Democrats who want Americans to eat fewer hamburgers

<div class="image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"></div><a href="http://www.ethanstowellrestaurants.com/stapleandfancy/">Ethan Stowell Restaurants</a></div>Like other necessities of life, <keyword id="6181" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Food">food</keyword> is subject to the subtle and sometimes inscrutable workings of market forces. Yet food, while a necessity, is also much more: Our experience of it is both sensual and highly symbolic, a rich crossroads of history, culture, family and memory. And even as, in much of the developed world, the daily struggle for food has faded into the background, with overconsumption rather than underconsumption the more pressing concern, food remains a contentious issue. Writers like Michael Pollan have raised questions about the influence of large agribusiness, and the call to support local, organic, sustainable food production has become the rallying cry for both a "locavore" food movement and a broader cultural stance critiquing our very way of life.
Tyler Cowen's new book, An Economist Gets Lunch: New Rules for Everyday Foodies, brings a set of simple economic principles to the everyday choices made by people who care about food. It presents a clear-eyed picture of how to go about finding good food value (both in terms of quality and price), one that dispels simple comparisons between local, artisanal traditions and the mass production methods of contemporary consumer society. The book is at its best when, in keeping with its title, it sticks with a highly personal, anecdotal approach.
Every Meal Counts
Cowen is a foodie, albeit a very particular kind of foodie. While he doesn't mind spending money on good food, he eschews various forms of food snobbery, especially those that equate cost with quality and automatically assume the superiority of food made from local ingredients. He feels there is no excuse for a bad meal, and believes that the best food values are usually found off the well-beaten path. Excessive routine and excessive regulation are both culinary culprits in his view. Essentially, he stakes out a position as a populist foodie with conservative leanings.
An anecdote in the opening chapter about the author's search for a few good meals in Nicaragua sets the tone for the best of what is to follow -- a kind of personal journey through food, informed equally by economics and informed hunches. While Nicaragua is not known for having great food, the author pays attention to local patterns, gets advice from cab drivers and finds his way to a handful of cheap but satisfying meals. From this experience he distills his central "rules" for common-sense foodies:
1. Every meal counts. Good, affordable food can be found anywhere; it's just a matter of deciphering local "codes" and "signals."
2. Good food is often cheap food. This is not to be confused with junk food.
3. Be innovative as a consumer. Cowen believes that a fundamental shift in <keyword id="6370402" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="eating">eating</keyword> habits starts with individual consumers, not with political or food elites, and that such a shift can make the world a better place. The author asserts that readers can best innovate as consumers by applying basic principles of supply and demand to their daily food choices: "Try to figure out where the supplies are fresh, the suppliers are creative, and the demanders are informed."
In Defense of Agribusiness ... Sort of
One of the author's central ideological tenets is that large agribusiness is not the villain it has been portrayed to be by authors such as Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma) and Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation). Such critics tend to blame agribusiness for the prevalence of highly processed and packaged food in the American diet -- everything from Velveeta and Hostess Twinkies to McDonald's and TV dinners. Cowen contends that contemporary agribusiness is a neutral platform not necessarily biased toward inferior products. Just as we don't blame the modern printing press for the existence of bad novels, we shouldn't blame agribusiness for the low points of the American culinary scene.
Cowen does acknowledge that American cuisine went through an extended period of mediocrity and blandness, but presents an alternative history of how this came to be. The first culprit was Prohibition -- the 18th Amendment to the Constitution outlawing the manufacture, sale and transportation of alcoholic beverages. There has long been a synergy in the restaurant business between food and drink, and the sudden disruption of that equation had a disastrous effect on many of the nation's best restaurants. Chefs trained in classical French cuisine could no longer even use wine in their sauces. One commentator characterized Prohibition as a "gastronomic holocaust." Though the period of formal Prohibition lasted only a decade, individual counties and states had been going dry since the 1880s, and many states were slow to restore pre-Prohibition access to alcohol: Texas, for example, didn't allow the sale of alcohol in restaurants until 1971. Thus, Prohibition has cast a longer shadow over the American food scene than many realize.
Other historical factors include World War II -- which placed a premium on convenient, pre-packaged food, often of low quality -- and severe restrictions on immigration imposed in the early 1920s and not fully relaxed until 1965. Demographic shifts in the 1950s, like the rise in suburban commuting and in dual-income households, only further reinforced the trend toward a "least common denominator" cuisine in which quickness and convenience trumped quality. Finally, the author notes cultural considerations such as the prevalence of TV and the child-centered nature of American family life. In traditional European culture, children are expected to adapt to adult tastes; the more permissive American approach to childrearing in a sense encouraged the opposite.
Rules for Eating Out
American food has rebounded from its mid-20th-century doldrums in a big way, and nowhere is this more evident than in a thriving (if uneven) restaurant scene. There, the author finds considerable cause for optimism in the ongoing American genius for innovating, and for assimilating and combining new influences. Yet just as, in the absence of consumer demand for something better, the American system of food supply and production once tilted toward the mediocre and the predictable, that same system continues to have built-in strengths and weaknesses. The informed consumer needs to understand what the American system does well and to look for telltale signs of innovation and value.
The strength of the American system, according to the author, is in its long and efficient supply lines. While fresh raw ingredients (particularly produce and seafood) are not always easy to find or are available only at a premium, the American system takes "sufficiently good" raw ingredients and combines them in interesting and innovative ways. Thus (with numerous local exceptions, of course) the consumer in search of value is advised to seek out dishes that are composition-intensive as opposed to ingredients-intensive. "Grilled sardines on bread are amazing in Portugal -- and pretty cheap -- but in Peoria, you should look for something else."
Armed with this general caveat, the adventurous eater can employ a number of other simple economic principles to the search for good restaurant value. Synergy with other businesses can be bad in the case of hospital cafeterias, but positive in the case of casinos, where house restaurants (particularly those behind the gaming floor) are essentially cross-subsidized by the main source of income, gambling. Labor is a major source of restaurant cost, so extra value can be found in family-run ethnic establishments. Most of all, restaurants with a built-in supply of ready customers simply have less incentive to innovate and provide real value, so, in general, avoid city centers and popular tourist areas, and pick alleys and narrow streets as opposed to broad and well-traveled avenues. Similarly, avoid well-traveled routes within an individual menu: A popular-sounding dish is likely to be below the restaurant's standards, whereas an unusual or even unappealing-sounding dish is likely to surprise.
Cowen is a big fan of seeking out restaurants in low-rent areas, particularly those with access to high-rent customers. In economic terms, low-rent venues have the freedom to be innovative at relatively low risk. Conversely, high-rent venues such as shopping mall restaurants require a large, steady stream of customers, which usually means more predictable and mainstream food, and less risk-taking. Seek out rundown strip malls, urban fringes and food trucks, the author advises.
Follow the Informed, Committed Customer
The author saves his most original piece of advice for the very end of his chapter on eating out: "Quality customers are often more important for a restaurant than is a quality chef." Though he doesn't initially elaborate on this point, the principle comes into sharper focus in a later chapter on the Asian dining scene in America that is one of the highlights of the book. Because Asian countries hold a disproportionate amount of the world's population and because food is such an integral part of Asian culture, much of the world's cuisine is Asian or Asian-influenced. That pattern holds true in the United States, and an examination of how simple economics dictates quality and innovation in the Asian dining market is instructive.
The chapter's most revealing contrast is between Indian and Pakistani restaurants. The two nations were unified for most of their long history, up until a divisive and bitter partition along largely religious lines in 1947. The two cuisines share a great deal of common ground and many common core dishes. Yet the two cultures carry very different associations in the American market. India is billed as the world's largest democracy and is linked in the American mind with "safe" images, like Gandhi. Predominantly Muslim Pakistan, on the other hand, is a battleground in the war against terrorism and calls to mind images of Osama Bin Laden and the gruesome execution of journalist Daniel Pearl.
What does this mean for the adventurous American diner? While there are certainly many fine Indian restaurants, the perception of Indian cuisine as safe and accessible means that many popular Indian restaurants will cast a wide net appealing to a broad, mainstream audience -- often resulting in less distinctive food. By contrast, the more mixed perception of Pakistani culture effectively filters out "uncommitted" customers seeking a safe, predictable dining experience. The largely Pakistani clientele that remains is more informed and committed, a plus for the diner seeking value and quality and innovation.
A small but important measure of how the two dining experiences differ concerns bread. Mainstream American customers expect bread to be served soon after being seated, and this has therefore become the norm at most Indian restaurants. Pakistani customers expect the bread to be made to order, and don't mind the extra wait. In general, Cowen argues, any factor that might deter the uncommitted mainstream diner -- such as explicitly religious décor, the absence of alcohol or difficult-to-read menus -- is good news for those seeking an authentic, distinctive meal. Specialization is also usually a good sign. If you're set on going Indian, pick a restaurant that focuses on a particular regional cuisine.
Barbeque: America's Original Slow Food
Another highlight of the book is a long chapter on barbeque, which has roots in a number of different cultures but has since become a local tradition in several regions of the United States. The economic indicators of value and quality in barbeque play out in ways that reinforce a number of the author's previous points.
Cowen opens the chapter with a survey of the range of barbeque techniques -- from the historic open pit to the classic brick pit to the more modern mechanized pit -- as well as the myriad regional variations in America, which often revolve around differences in sauces and sides. All this history makes for interesting reading, but the heart of the chapter is how barbeque illustrates the author's earlier distinction between ingredients-intensive andcomposition-intensive cuisine. Barbeque is a highly regional tradition, yet one that is not particularly tied to fresh local ingredients. Even the meat needn't necessarily be high quality -- indeed, the long cooking methods and rich sauces are, in some cases, a way of adapting to tougher or inferior cuts. Barbeque, the author contends, is a distinctly American hybrid combining regional artisanal techniques with the long, efficient food supply lines that are the strength of American agribusiness.
The sauces that often distinguish regional variations are a perfect example of this hybrid quality. They are composed of the kind of humble, mass-produced ingredients that in some circles give the American system a bad name: mustard, ketchup, vinegar, dried spices. Yet these same sauces are assembled artisanally in small batches that are difficult to replicate or market on a national level. They are local, and yet not local.
Barbeque also exhibits some of the self-selecting dynamics Cowen notes elsewhere. While he seems to have a preference for the classic fire pit over modern gas pits, to some extent the point isn't one of fire or gas, but the "selection effects" of the older, more artisanal approach. A classic pit restaurant requires skilled labor (including a pit operator willing to work long overnight hours), and will be more likely to have an on-site proprietor -- all of which bodes well for overall quality. The artisanal approach also necessarily attracts a different kind of customer in a different kind of setting. The slow methods of a classic pit can't accommodate surges in demand, and thus tend to thrive in rural settings where committed customers are willing to show up early in the morning for the most prized products, and aren't surprised if the restaurant runs out shortly after noon. Such rural settings have the added benefit of being low in rent and lax in regulation. A later chapter on why Mexican food tastes better in Mexico observes a similar dynamic in which modern food supply networks and rural artisanal traditions come together in a productive synergy.
Green Revolutions
The book is at its best when its ambitions are modest and the author's approach personal and anecdotal. In later chapters tackling broader questions of food policy, Cowen overreaches and lapses into didactic, oversimplified arguments. As part of his defense of American agribusiness and his critique of what he views as the backward-looking food snobbery of "locavores" (a term closely associated with the work of Pollan and other liberal food activists), the author wades into the dicey waters of the debate around GMO (genetically modified organism) foods, which he characterizes as the key to the next green revolution.
Cowen makes a number of fair points. Innovations in machinery and the introduction of new hybrids and fertilizers produced dramatic gains in crop productivity in the decades after World War II, forestalling predictions of widespread starvation as the world's population ballooned. Those gains have since fallen off, and the world is in the midst of a new food crunch, one complicated by the diversion of corn for biofuel and by manufacturing gains in the developing world (and thus in lifestyle and diet) that far outstrip agricultural gains. Moreover, restrictive bans on GMO products in Europe have discouraged African farmers, for example, from taking advantage of the productivity gains they might offer. Despite these valid points, however, Cowen's treatment of this complicated and contentious issue is too cursory to be convincing.
A chapter entitled, "Eating Your Way to a Greener Planet," overreaches as well. Again, the author raises some valid issues. An unquestioning embrace of local food production ignores the fact that transportation is a relatively small part of food's total energy cost (according to Cowen, about 14%) and that overall per-unit energy costs may well be higher for small local farmers. "Locavore" activists should be more careful in distinguishing between products that are flown in at high-energy costs versus those that are shipped in at relatively low cost.
Yet the author's attempts to link shifts in individual consumer behavior and pressing global issues, like malnutrition and the environment, are quickly and poorly drawn. He opens the book with the bold declaration that "American food is in crisis" (a claim never fully developed), and then goes on to assert that "constructing a better eating experience" is the best single step toward feeding the nine billion worldwide facing malnutrition -- but he never quite connects the dots. Cowen is at his best when he stays simple and sticks with his own experiences as both a foodie and an economist.This story was originally published by <a href="http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/" target="_blank">Knowledge@Wharton</a>.

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