Consumption usually takes a dip whenever prices are raised, falling by as much as 20 percent to 30 percent, as people shift to fuel wood.
But Shell noticed a three percent increase in sales during the June-July period, as monsoon weather forced people to shift to cooking gas. Shell was also enjoying a government subsidy at that time, making it easy on the purse, explains Renuka Jey Raj, Shell's Media & Communications Manager.
But the picture changed from Aug 2 price hike onwards, with volumes dropping by around three to five percent for a 12.5 ki