As India updates the way it measures inflation, Monika explains why the revision of the Consumer Price Index base year from 2012 to 2024 matters and what it really means for households. Drawing on new data from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey, she breaks down how the CPI basket evolves over time to reflect changing consumption patterns — from the decline of outdated products to the rise of digital services, transport, and other modern expenses. The episode clarifies how shifts in weightages, especially the reduced share of food and the higher share of services, will influence headline inflation and policymaking.

Monika also explains why the CPI is an average that may not match individual experience, and how the new index should give policymakers a more accurate picture of real household spending pressures. She highlights that lower food weight may make inflation appear less volatile, while costs that matter most to many middle-class families — healthcare, education, housing, and services — continue to rise faster than the headline number. The key takeaway: inflation data is improving, but personal financial planning should always be based on one’s own spending patterns, not just official statistics.

In listener questions, Anonymous asks how global developments such as U.S. debt concerns, de-dollarisation, and shifting geopolitical power could affect Indian markets and whether investors should change their asset allocation or SIP strategy; Djay from Mumbai seeks guidance on retirement planning for couples and how to estimate and invest toward a child’s education corpus; and Ramya Srinivasan writes about deploying proceeds from a property sale, weighing PMS investments against mutual funds, and the best way to move a lump sum into equity over time.

Chapters:

(00:00 – 00:00) What the New Consumer Price Index Means for You

(00:00 – 00:00) How Changes in the CPI Basket and Weightages Affect Inflation and Policy

(00:00 – 00:00) Global Risks, Market Crashes and Staying Invested Through Uncertainty

(00:00 – 00:00) Planning Retirement as a Couple and Building a Child Education Corpus

(00:00 – 00:00) PMS vs Mutual Funds and How to Deploy a Large Lump Sum

https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/why-india-needs-a-new-gold-standard-101770307424675.html

https://www.mospi.gov.in/uploads/latestreleasesfiles/1770893247472-Press%20Relase%20of%20CPI%20for%20Jan26.pdf

If you have financial questions that you’d like answers for, please email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠ 

Monika’s book on basic money management

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-money-english/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Monika’s book on mutual funds

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-mutual-funds/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Monika’s workbook on recording your financial life

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-legacy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Calculators

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://investor.sebi.gov.in/calculators/index.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can find Monika on her social media @monikahalan. 

Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MonikaHalan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Production House: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.inoutcreatives.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Production Assistant:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Anshika Gogoi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠