Household spending trends ahead of India’s main festive season are flashing warning signs of a widening chasm in demand recovery as inflation hovers around 7% and unemployment keeps on rising.
Consumer-goods makers are reporting robust demand for items priced nearly $2,000 in a nation where per-capita income is just a tad above that level, while industry data on sales of budget phones priced below $100 and motorcycles, an indicator of rural demand, are showing a weaker trend.
Customers are in the market for premium products, said Satish NS, senior vice president at the Indian unit of Qingdao, China-headquartered Haier Group