Diwali shopping to remain unabated despite slump: Survey

Shoppers are planning to welcome the festive season with renewed optimism as 45 per cent of Indians surveyed are expected to spend more during the upcoming holiday season than last year.

Nearly, 70 per cent of Indians are keen to keep the holiday spirit alive without fail and the average Diwali spend amongst Indians this year is a significant amount, online transaction services provider PayPal said in a survey.

Despite the weakened economy, Indians are entering into the festive spirit with 45 per cent expected to spend more during the upcoming holiday season than they did last year, the survey said.

"Many online merchants will be gearing up for the festive period and encouragingly it looks like spending is due to rise in India," PayPal Southeast Asia and India General Manager Mario Shiliashki said.

Out of the four countries surveyed across South East Asia, Indians are the savviest online shoppers as 75 per cent intend to shop online during the upcoming festive period.

The items that top the Diwali gift list include — household, health, beauty, entertainment and vouchers.

"In today's e-commerce climate, consumers expect their online shopping experiences to be better than those found in the offline world, with access to a wider range of products and more competitive prices, whilst guaranteeing security and convenience," Shiliashki added.

About 75 per cent of shoppers in India favour online shopping as it saves time, 65 per cent do this to avoid crowds for 60 per cent of respondents said they do it to access to a wider range of products, the report said.