More than a month after National Statistical Commission (NSC) Chairman Bimal Kumar Roy said the official survey report showing a dip in consumer spending for the first time in over four decades would be made public, the autonomous data body decided against releasing the report. When asked why the NSC departed from its earlier view, Roy said: “I did try.

I made a proposal (in an NSC meeting on January 15) to release the survey but I didn’t find support. I did put in the proposal as chairman but it didn’t get through. I cannot say anything more now.” A source said ...