Prices, jobs, budgets and your money.
Dealers in district towns report their busiest October in three years, helped by a good harvest and easy instalment plans. Economists say the real test is whether demand holds after the festivals.
Tomato and onion prices have fallen by up to a third in two weeks as supply from nearby farms recovers. Traders expect prices to stay soft until the festive peak.
Set a ceiling, pay for gifts from savings rather than credit, and watch out for 'no-cost' instalments. A simple plan for the season's biggest spending weeks.
A survey of 2,500 delivery riders, drivers and home-service workers found most could cover less than two weeks of expenses if they lost work. Researchers suggest small automatic savings.
A quarter-point rise looks small, but over 20 years it adds up. We work through a ₹30 lakh loan to show what happens to your EMI, or to your tenure.
Bankers, chartered accountants and district officials sat under one roof in Amrauli to help small units fill forms, fix documents and understand loan terms.
A hallmark shows purity; a detailed bill protects you if you ever sell or exchange. Five checks to make before you pay for jewellery.
District data show work requests fell by a third in September as farm labour demand rose. Officials say the pattern is seasonal and expect demand to return after Diwali.
