India continues to be the fastest growing large economy in the world. But the latest government data on household savings signals possible trouble at the micro level. Net household savings have declined sharply by nearly 109 billion dollars between 2020 and 2023. That's a five-year-low.

Household savings decline by $109 billion between 2020 & 2023

UK stay with the threat of living crisis because it still looms over the country and a new study has found that this will probably result in thousands of premature deaths.

UK: Premature deaths in babies will rise by 6.5% in 2023, vulnerable households to suffer the most

India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2023 in the Parliament on Wednesday (February 1). While several things, including cigarettes, gold, silver, platinum items and electric chimneys have become costlier after the announcement of new government policies, a host of daily-use items have become cheaper also.

India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2023 in the Parliament on Wednesday (February 1). While several things, including cigarettes, gold, silver, platinum items and electric chimneys have become costlier after the announcement of new government policies, a host of daily-use items have become cheaper also. The government has emphasised on promoting Made-In-India goods as it has increased import duty on several items but decreased taxes on domestically-made items. Here’s a list of 7 household daily-use items that have become cheaper after today’s Union Budget 2023. Lithium-ion batteries have become cheaper. This means every household item using Lithium-ion batteries, including mobile phones, power banks, and audio gadgets will become cheaper. TV Panels and LED TVs will be less dearer. The government wants to encourage the use of Electric Vehicles and green energy. So, it has decreased taxes on EVs and biogas. Automobile: If you are planning to buy a new car, bike or any automobile, then here’s great news for you. The government has slashed the customs duty on automobile import, which means imported automobile vehicles will now become cheaper. Camera lens: This will lead to cheaper mobile phones and cameras in the country. Electronic items: The government has slashed taxes on electronic items, which means that it’s the best time for you to buy electronic items. No additional taxes on laptops, mobile phones and personal gadgets: In a big relief for Indian consumers, the Indian FM didn’t announce additional taxes on personal gadgets. So, these items won’t get costlier this year. Heat coils will become less expensive but electric kitchen chimneys will cost more. To assist ethanol blending and energy changes, denatured ethanol will become cheaper. The largest export growth in the previous fiscal years was recorded by marine items, particularly shrimp, which benefited the farmers. As a result, the raw materials used to produce shrimp at home will now be available at cheaper rates. To support the Indian diamond industry, diamond seeds used in the production of lab-grown diamonds would also become cheaper. The finance minister of India stated that the lab-grown diamond business holds "huge promise for the nation" during her statement on the Indian Union Budget 2023. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Union Budget 2023: 7 household items that have become cheaper, check full list now

India's finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, on Wednesday presented her fifth budget and her&nbsp;speech, which lasted 87 minutes, also turned out to be her shortest one so far. Sitharaman's budget speech in 2022&nbsp;was close to 92 minutes, which at that time was the shortest. A year earlier, in 2021, she spoke for 110 minutes (or an hour and 50 minutes).

Watch |&nbsp;Exclusive | Union Budget 2023: Sanjiv Bajaj, President of CII speaks to WION

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The finance minister also holds the&nbsp;record for the longest budget speech in India's history. In 2020, her speech was clocked at 2 hours and 40 minutes; because of her health, she was actually forced to cut it short and take a breather.

With this budget, she also became the sixth Finance Minister of Independent India to present five consecutive financial statements.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/mahila-samman-saving-certificate-india-encourages-women-to-increase-savings-know-everything-about-it-557909">Mahila Samman Saving Certificate: India encourages women to increase savings. Know everything about it</a>

Other ministers to have achieved that feat are Arun Jaitley, P Chidambaram, Yashwant Sinha, Manmohan Singh and Morarji Desai.

However, the record is held by former Prime Minister Morarji Desai who holds the record for presenting 10 budgets—the maximum by any Finance Minister.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-budget-2023-increase-in-funds-for-maldives-bhutan-support-for-afghanistan-continues-557859">India Budget 2023: Increase in funds for Maldives, Bhutan, support for Afghanistan continues&nbsp;</a>

Sitharaman is only the second woman to have presented the budget in independent India. The first was former Prime Minister&nbsp;Indira Gandhi who presented the financial statement for the financial year 1970-71.

This year's speech was Sitharaman's last full-fledged budget speech of the current government as the country will be holding its general elections next year.

(With inputs from agencies)

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India's finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, on Wednesday presented her fifth budget and her speech, which lasted 87 minutes, also turned out to be her shortest one so far.

India's finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, on Wednesday presented her fifth budget and her speech, which lasted 87 minutes, also turned out to be her shortest one so far. Sitharaman's budget speech in 2022 was close to 92 minutes, which at that time was the shortest. A year earlier, in 2021, she spoke for 110 minutes (or an hour and 50 minutes). Watch | Exclusive | Union Budget 2023: Sanjiv Bajaj, President of CII speaks to WION The finance minister also holds the record for the longest budget speech in India's history. In 2020, her speech was clocked at 2 hours and 40 minutes; because of her health, she was actually forced to cut it short and take a breather. With this budget, she also became the sixth Finance Minister of Independent India to present five consecutive financial statements. Also read | Mahila Samman Saving Certificate: India encourages women to increase savings. Know everything about it Other ministers to have achieved that feat are Arun Jaitley, P Chidambaram, Yashwant Sinha, Manmohan Singh and Morarji Desai. However, the record is held by former Prime Minister Morarji Desai who holds the record for presenting 10 budgets—the maximum by any Finance Minister. Also read | India Budget 2023: Increase in funds for Maldives, Bhutan, support for Afghanistan continues Sitharaman is only the second woman to have presented the budget in independent India. The first was former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who presented the financial statement for the financial year 1970-71. This year's speech was Sitharaman's last full-fledged budget speech of the current government as the country will be holding its general elections next year. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

At 87 minutes, this year’s Union Budget speech is Nirmala Sitharaman’s shortest

Japan has asked all households and companies across the country to conserve electricity within a reasonable range during the peak winter demand season to cover possible power crunch in the world's third largest economy.

WION Climate Tracker | Japan: Household, companies to conserve electricity during winters

Japan’s households increased spending for the first time in four months in June, as demand for travel services rose in a positive sign for broader economic recovery prospects.

Japan’s households raise spending for first time in 4 months

US household wealth has dropped for the first time in two years. A drop in the stock market has overwhelmed the gains.

US household wealth drops for the first time in two years

To stay healthy in old age, household chores can help adults in a big way. It may seem a bit rash, but researchers suggest that tasks at home like scrubbing floors, dusting, etc may help in staying fit. &nbsp;

The study has been published in the journal ‘BMJ Open’. A Singapore-based team of researchers said that regular physical activity “improves physical and mental health, mitigates the risks and effects of chronic diseases, and reduces falls, immobility, dependency and mortality among older adults”. &nbsp;

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In the study, the team recruited adults from Yishun town in Singapore. The participants were asked about their levels of physical activity, including the amount of light housework and heavy housework they did and were assessed for their risk of having a fall based on measures like knee extension strength. &nbsp;

It involved 249 participants in the age group of 21 to 64 years and 240 participants belonging to the age group of 65 to 90 years. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/scientists-discover-lie-detector-that-uses-artificial-intelligence-to-detect-micro-expressions-431030" hreflang="en">Scientists discover lie detector that uses artificial intelligence to detect micro-expressions</a>

The team found cognitive scores and attention scores were 8% and 14% higher respectively for adults, which did high amount of heavy housework compared to low levels. &nbsp;

Dr Shiou-Liang Wee, co-author of the research, said, “Housework is a purposeful activity performed by many older adults. Independent of recreation, (commuting) and other work-related physical activity, heavy housework is linked to sharper memory and better falls protection in older adults.” &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

To stay healthy in old age, household chores can help adults in a big way. It may seem a bit rash, but researchers suggest that tasks at home like scrubbing floors, dusting, etc may help in staying fit.

To stay healthy in old age, household chores can help adults in a big way. It may seem a bit rash, but researchers suggest that tasks at home like scrubbing floors, dusting, etc may help in staying fit. The study has been published in the journal ‘BMJ Open’. A Singapore-based team of researchers said that regular physical activity “improves physical and mental health, mitigates the risks and effects of chronic diseases, and reduces falls, immobility, dependency and mortality among older adults”. Also Read | Drinking tea, coffee lowers risk of stroke and dementia: Study In the study, the team recruited adults from Yishun town in Singapore. The participants were asked about their levels of physical activity, including the amount of light housework and heavy housework they did and were assessed for their risk of having a fall based on measures like knee extension strength. It involved 249 participants in the age group of 21 to 64 years and 240 participants belonging to the age group of 65 to 90 years. Also Read: Scientists discover lie detector that uses artificial intelligence to detect micro-expressions The team found cognitive scores and attention scores were 8% and 14% higher respectively for adults, which did high amount of heavy housework compared to low levels. Dr Shiou-Liang Wee, co-author of the research, said, “Housework is a purposeful activity performed by many older adults. Independent of recreation, (commuting) and other work-related physical activity, heavy housework is linked to sharper memory and better falls protection in older adults.” (With inputs from agencies)

In old age, household chores can boost health, says study

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