List of Costlier and Cheaper Items

A large variety of day-to-day usage items and services will burn a hole in the common man’s pocket with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee proposing to raise excise duty to 12 per cent from 10 per cent and a similar hike in service tax rate.

Following is a list of what will be costlier and which ones will be cheaper following the Budget 2012-13.

Costlier:

* Two-wheelers, cars, commercial vehicles,
* Refrigerators, air-conditioners, washing machines, watches
* Soaps, cosmetics, homecare items,
* Cigarettes and bidis,
* Packaged food items
* Pan masala and chewing tobacco,
* Unbranded precious metal jewellery,
* Imported luxury vehicles,
* Imported bicycles and bicycle parts,
* Imported digital still cameras,
* Imported gold bars and coins of certain categories, platinum
* Imported cut and polished coloured gem stones,
* Air travel, eating out at restaurants and hotel stays

Not all is gloomy as the Budget has also made some items and activities cheaper.

Cheaper:

* Mobile phone parts,
* Branded silver jewellery,
* Branded garments,
* Imported LCD and LED TV panels of over 20 inch,
* Matches,
* Footwear below Rs 500,
* Adult diapers,
* Soya protein food products,
* Probiotics,
* Writing instruments,
* Imported medical equipment