Objectives: Today, Indian economy faces many difficulties like corruption, unemployment, illiteracy etc. The problem of rising prices is one of the most complex matters that are facing now. From the previous years, prices of essential consumer goods like vegetables, fruits, food grains, petrol and LPG prices are increasing very rapidly. This Inflation of food items disturbs the purchasing power of low-income groups like the roadside hawker. This study tries to evaluate the influences of inflation on food consumption items.
Methods: This research paper is based on primary data which is collected nearer religious place roadside hawker. The around 52 roadside hawkers were interviewed and their age group ranged from 18 to 50; with the help of semi-structured, the interview schedule was based on convinces sampling technique with four indicators. The data coding and the tabulation is done with the help of SPSS and MS Excel.
Findings: The results show that inflation of essential food items decreased consumption of essential goods at the household level and many roadside hawkers shifted their choice towards the sub standardized food items which directly affects their health. The 67.3% roadside hawkers decreased their household vegetable consumption. LPG, Kerosene, electricity is the main energy resources but more than 70% hawker decreased their consumption and all hawkers decreased their daily milk consumption
Application: This study lightened the impact of inflation on the essential consumer items that consumption is decreased by roadside hawker. This affects their health and creates the vicious cycle of poverty. So the centre and state government should control the essential food items and take strong action those promoting the high inflation