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Retail sector bounces back, to see 9-10% growth soon

Retail sector bounces back, to see 9-10% growth soon

Time of India2 days ago
HighlightsThe Indian retail sector, currently valued at $900 billion, is expected to grow at a rate of 9 to 10% following a temporary slowdown to 5%. According to the Retailers' Association of India's 62nd Retail Business Survey, retail sales across India increased by 7% in May 2025 compared to the same month the previous year. Southern India led retail sales growth at 9%, while quick service restaurants showed the highest segment growth at 10%, indicating increased consumer willingness to spend.
The
Indian retail sector
, currently valued at $900 billion, is showing signs of strong recovery and is expected to grow at a faster pace in the coming months, according to the Retailers' Association of India (RAI).
The sector, which is currently growing at a rate of 5%, is likely to soon pick up speed and reach a growth rate of 9 to 10%.
RAI's CEO Kumar Rajagopalan said that right after the pandemic, the retail sector had bounced back strongly with a 20% growth rate.
'However, in the last one year, the growth slowed down to around 5%. Now, with the markets stabilising, consumers spending more, and the right consumer base in place, the sector is once again showing signs of faster growth,' he added.
Meanwhile, as per RAI's 62nd
Retail Business Survey
, retail sales across India grew by 7% in May 2025 compared to the same month the previous year. This marks a significant improvement after months of moderate growth ranging between 4 to 5%.
Region-wise, southern India led the way with a 9% growth in retail sales in May. Western India followed with 7%, while northern and eastern regions recorded growth of 6% and 4%, respectively, as per the report.
Among the different segments,
quick service restaurants
(QSR) showed the highest growth at 10%. Consumer durables and electronics, along with furniture, also performed well with an 8% rise each.
Rajagopalan said this increase shows that people are now more willing to spend.
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