If the stereo-type of a Gujarati is that of a wealthy individual who enjoys good things in life, this one comes as a shocker. An all-India survey on monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) carried out by the authoritative National Sample Survey (NSS), puts Gujarat at the bottom of a 20-state list, ahead only of Bihar, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh.

In a startling revelation, the survey found only 2.9 per cent of the state’s urban population has an MPCE of more than Rs 2,540 – the highest spending category.