Archive · 21 Nov 2025
Skimpflation: The Silent Erosion of Quality in India's Middle Class
Imagine you buy your favorite chocolate bar, but it tastes different and not as good as before.
The price is the same, but the quality has gone down.
This is happening to many things in India, and it's called skimpflation.
It's like a sneaky way of making you pay more for less without changing the price.
This is happening to many things like snacks, food, and even car rides.
It's not tracked by official numbers, but people are feeling it, especially the middle class.
Consumers are getting cheaper inputs and downgraded quality while prices remain the same
This trend, called skimpflation, is affecting various products and services
It's not tracked by inflation metrics but impacts daily life, especially for the middle class
Examples include downgraded snacks on flights and in restaurants, and older vehicles for Uber rides
Legacy FMCG brands are also involved, with original products feeling like 'pale reflections'
- Who
- Indian middle class consumers
- What
- Experiencing skimpflation, a decrease in product quality without a price change
- When
- Currently ongoing
- Where
- India, across various products and services
- Why
- To maintain profit margins despite inflation and economic pressures
Consumers
Businesses
Quality perception
Consumers
Feel they are getting less for the same price
Businesses
May argue they are maintaining affordability
- Definition
- Skimpflation: A decrease in product quality or service standards without a corresponding decrease in price
- Impacted sectors
- Food, snacks, transportation, FMCG products
- Affected class
- Middle class in India
- Not tracked by
- Official inflation metrics
- Examples
- Downgraded snacks on flights, older Uber vehicles, legacy FMCG brands' quality reduction