Retail sales across India saw a modest uptick in April 2025, inching up 4% compared to the same month last year, according to the latest Retail Business Survey by the Retailers Association of India (RAI).
When broken down by region, the northern and western parts of the country outpaced others, reporting 6% and 5% growth, respectively. Meanwhile, the eastern and southern regions lagged slightly behind, each managing just a 2% increase.
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“Store visits may be thinning out a bit, but those who do walk in seem more intentional with their purchases,” said Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO of RAI. “Shoppers are also showing interest in fresh product lines. Brands that bring something aspirational or unique to the table are definitely seeing stronger results.”
Looking at specific retail categories, quick service restaurants (QSRs) stood out with a healthy 11% jump. Food & grocery, along with beauty products, each posted 6% gains. Apparel wasn’t far behind with a 5% increase. Jewellery and furniture segments both saw a 4% rise, while footwear edged up by 2%. Sports goods and consumer durables had the slowest growth, each inching up just 1%.
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Despite mixed signals in foot traffic and spending patterns, the mood among retailers remains cautiously optimistic. Most are holding steady, not seeing any sharp pullbacks in consumer spending for now.
