Double trouble for FMCG players: Costly commodities, weak demand

Leading FMCG companies in India, including HUL, Godrej, Marico, ITC, and Tata Consumer Products, have reported a decline in margins for the September quarter due to higher input costs and food inflation impacting urban consumption. Rising prices of palm oil, coffee, and cocoa have particularly squeezed margins, prompting some firms to consider price hikes amid continued rural growth.