Single is double

India’s best hope for double-digit growth, the Boston Analytics Consumer Sentiment Index shows, lies in the number of singles in the country. While the overall consumer sentiment index fell by 2.8 per cent to 81.8 in November, there were segments for whom the index rose. Single Indians, the index found, were more optimistic about the country’s future than married Indians. Since they’re more optimistic about their ability to find a new job, should they lose their current one, according to the firm, they’re more likely to buy durables like two or four-wheelers over the next six months and a house over the next 12 months. It’s important to note the ‘single effect’ is not common to all ‘singles’ but applies really to those in the 20-25 age group — for reasons not clear, singles under 20 tend to reflect ‘more the sentiment of married individuals’. And you thought singles under 20 were the biggest spending group?