Consumers make a move, bring cheer to retailers

Kolkata | Mumbai: Consumption picked up in the first weekend of festive season shopping, bringing relief to large retail chains, brands, malls and e-commerce marketplaces. A positive start to the Diwali sales period has assuaged concerns that the economic slowdown would hit consumption in what’s traditionally the high point of India’s shopping calendar.

Several retailers, including Future Group, Spencer’s Retail, Arvind Lifestyle, Reliance Digital, Vijay Sales and Great Eastern said their sales have grown by more than double digits in categories such as fashion and apparel, smartphones and consumer electronics in the first weekend of Navratri over same period last year. On average, sales have jumped 10-14%, they said.