A cursory look at the socioeconomic scenario would show inflationary trends and rising prices. Consumerism is on the increase. Food crop prices have increased inspite of increased production and bumper monsoon Over the years, black money has been generated increasing new poor gap. All these have badly affected the common man's life.

Inflation on a long lease; prices on the run for different consumer articles, purchasing power of money on down hill slide, a widening budget deficit, strangely enough, consumerism on an ecstatic ascent; foreign exchange reserves at their lowest ebb; strikes taking place on every conceivable pretext; and law and order in limbo.

A hard as well as a harsh fact about which there are no two opinions is that the prices of branded consumer products have maintained a steady upward trend regardless of other events taking place in the economy. There has been a steady. upward trend in the prices of major branded consumer food products and toiletries. Barring a few exceptions the rate of inflation in prices of common articles at consumptions has kept pace with, or even outstripped the rate of increase in the general price index.