Consumer Demand

Business environment to remain dynamic in FY27, says Asian Paints CEO

Leading paint maker Asian Paints expects the business environment to remain dynamic in FY27 amid heightened competition, commodity price movements, supply-chain risks and geopolitical uncertainties, said its Managing Director and CEO Amit Syngle in the annual report. Syngle said the recent escalation in West Asia has added to uncertainty surrounding the global economy, particularly for import-dependent markets such as India. "The business environment will remain dynamic. Competitive intensity, commodity movements, external volatility and supply-chain risks will continue to require discipline," he said while addressing the shareholders. According to Syngle, the tensions in West Asia could have implications for energy costs, logistics and broader cost structures. Despite these near-term challenges, the company remains optimistic about its long-term prospects and believes it is entering the new financial year from a position of strength. "We enter the new financial year with a stronge

Wealth erosion likely as India's consumer economy heads into perfect storm

With household budgets under strain from rising prices, coupled with slow income growth due to a decelerating economy, the consumer goods sector is bracing for a demand slowdown

Voltas Q3 margins surprise, but brokerages flag cost, demand risks

Voltas posted largely in-line revenue for Q3, but better-than-expected profitability, particularly in its UCP segment, prompted a reassessment of near-term margin trends among analysts.

Indian retail eyes strong growth as demand shifts to Tier II, III cities

Shrugging off past disruptions, the Indian retail industry is gearing up for 2026 with a solid foundation and is expected to see better margins, driven by a shift in demand from major metros to Tier II and III cities, all while maintaining its position as the world's third-largest retail market. The Indian retail industry, valued at approximately USD 1.1 trillion, is marked by rapid digital integration, expansion into smaller towns, and significant mall development, driven by strong domestic demand, tech-led disruption, and rising consumer expectations for quality and value. With policy interventions such as GST reforms and income tax relief, coupled with a good monsoon and higher Minimum Support Prices (MSP), the industry anticipates a silver lining in consumer demand. Moreover, the rise of the value retail boom and premiumisation, is expected to usher in a year of accelerated growth. However, the industry faces challenges such as growing rentals, fierce competition across digital

GST rate cuts likely to keep driving consumer demand for some quarters

Consumer companies say that demand has already started to see some positive impact

Best of BS Opinion: Government must continue with trimming its QCO list

Today's Best of BS Opinion looks at Bihar's fiscal test after NDA win, pushback against QCOs, Trump's tariff stance and India's options, India Inc earnings vs GDP, and a biography of Francis Crick

Diwali through the ages: From harvest roots to LED-lit celebrations

Once marked by the simple lighting of diyas and modest home decorations, Diwali today is synonymous with affluence and high consumer demand

Consumer space hits four-year high with ₹21,200 crore in deals: Report

F&B and apparel sectors led deal activity, with private equity accounting for 99 per cent of total value in September, according to Equirus Capital's latest report

Navratri sales hit decade-high as GST reforms boost festive spending

In the first eight days of the festival, Maruti Suzuki delivered 165,000 vehicles, including 30,000 units on Day 1, making it the company's best single-day sales in 35 years

Best of BS Opinion: A sobering set of data reveals India's infirmities

From low workers' wages to suspect GDP to scary rankings for pilot training schools to self-serving protectionism, today's pieces paint a sobering picture of what ails India economy and policy

Best of BS Opinion: GST 2.0 reforms miss underlying core principles

Today's pieces look at the available space for more rate cuts, the sorry state of tribunals, why GST reforms are not really that, and how India can harness its vast non-export MSME sector

Air conditioner, TV makers upbeat about sales amid signs of GST cuts

Consumer durables firms expect GST cut on air conditioners and large TV panels from 28% to 18% to lower prices, spur festive demand and improve sales in a price-sensitive market

Rural demand continued to outpace urban in April-June period: NielsenIQ

India's FMCG market grew 13.9% in April-June, driven by rural demand, smaller packs, and e-commerce gains in metros, even as urban recovery narrowed the rural-urban gap

Logistics companies gear up to meet festival season demand surge

Prozo, which provides warehousing and fulfilment services, expects shipment to rise by 50 per cent compared to last year

Eggoz raises $20 mn in series-C funding to scale India's branded egg biz

Backed by Gaja Capital, Eggoz aims to expand its footprint, build supply chain tech, and compete in India's $12 bn egg market with traceable, hygienic products

Rural demand for FMCG grows at a slower pace in March quarter: NielsenIQ

Demand for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) in rural India stood at 8.4 per cent in the March quarter, compared to 9.2 per cent in October-December of 2024

Analysts cut targets for Trent amid slowing growth, weak consumer sentiment

While Trent reported strong profit and revenue growth, several brokerages have slashed their target prices, citing slowing growth momentum and weak consumer sentiment

Slower corporate wage growth impacts consumer demand in India

Effects of single-digit salary growth for 3 qtrs on consumer spending are now palpable

Rural demand rises but urban areas 'slow down'; will it impact GDP growth?

While rural demand has shown an uptick, rising food inflation and a slowdown in credit growth pose challenges, potentially dampening the country's growth in the second quarter of 2024-25

Best option is to double down on market strategy, says P&G India

On the PGHH call, Mrinalini Srinivasan, CFO, said that positive trends are finally emerging in the Indian fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry, both in urban and rural areas