The Indian rupee has fallen below ₹90 against the US dollar, reaching around ₹90.40 per dollar, a record low. For ordinary consumers, this may soon be visible at store shelves and online carts.
Several factors have pushed the rupee down: India’s rising imports, foreign investors pulling money out of Indian markets, and the country’s persistent trade deficit. Every time the rupee weakens, imported goods and components become costlier, and businesses often pass some of that increase to consumers.
Sectors most likely to feel the pinch include electronics, automobiles, and beauty products. Smartphone makers, appliance companies, car manufacturers, and cosmetic brands are all seeing higher costs for imported materials. Many have already signaled price hikes ranging from 3% to 10% in the near term.
For households, this could mean that items which felt slightly cheaper recently due to tax or GST benefits may now become more expensive. Electronics like smartphones and laptops, cars, imported cosmetics, and packaged foods with imported ingredients are expected to be the most affected.
Economists warn that the rupee’s fall could add to overall inflation, affecting not just luxury items but also semi-imported everyday products. Companies face a difficult choice: absorb the rising costs and risk smaller profits, or raise prices and risk lower demand.
While exporters might gain from a weaker rupee, most consumers are likely to feel the squeeze. The government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are keeping a close watch, but immediate relief may be limited as the rupee’s slide reflects both global pressures and domestic economic factors.
As such in the days to come, hoppers may soon notice their wallets stretching a little further for the same products. As imported goods get costlier, companies and consumers alike are bracing for a new reality shaped by currency swings.
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