The point of departure of this study was an examinationrnof the limitations of the traditi onal approach to c onsumptionrnanalysis in th e developinG countries. An alternative approachrnwas developed a nd applied t o the socio-economic realities ofrnpost-revolutionary Ethiopia. The approache ' permit ted one torna nalyse household consumption patterns of the country fr omrndifferent a neles. The st'!lGly suggested that those who arernconcerned with c nnsumption planning oould be ahle t o contributernmore t o the development o f the national economy by reconsideringrntheir approach to the subject.