Economy lightens up on festive season demand as shoppers back in force

Indian shoppers are back in force online and in stores, splurging this festive season after the coronavirus pandemic damped celebrations and consumption in previous years.

Online marketplaces Amazon.com Inc., and Walmart Inc.-owned Flipkart saw sales jump 27% from a year ago to $5.7 billion during the festival season’s first sale between Sept. 22-30, consulting firm RedSeer estimated. Traders estimate spending of about 2.5 trillion rupees ($30.2 billion) at stores.

This year’s Diwali, the festival of lights that falls on Oct. 24 and the equivalent of Christmas in the West, will be India’s first season of celebration since the pandemic began