Retail sector registers record ₹6.05 L crore sales this Diwali

India’s retail sector witnessed a record-breaking Diwali in 2025, marking its highest-ever festive business, according to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). A comprehensive Research Report on Diwali Festival Sales 2025, conducted by the CAIT Research & Trade Development Society across 60 major distribution centres, including state capitals and Tier‑2 and Tier‑3 cities, estimated total festive sales at ₹6.05 lakh crore — comprising ₹5.40 lakh crore in goods and ₹65,000 crore in services. The figure reflects a 25 per cent increase from last year’s ₹4.25 lakh crore, underscoring the resilience of India’s retail economy.

Delhi’s Chandni Chowk MP and CAIT Secretary‑General, Praveen Khandelwal, said the findings highlight that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emerged as a “strong brand ambassador” for GST rationalisation and the Swadeshi movement, encouraging both traders and consumers across the country.

Khandelwal said the Prime Minister’s call for “Vocal for Local” and a “Swadeshi Diwali” struck a powerful chord with citizens, as nearly 87 per cent of consumers opted for Indian-made products over imported ones, particularly Chinese goods. Traders reported a 25 per cent surge in sales of domestically manufactured items compared with 2024.

He added that traditional and non-corporate markets contributed nearly 85 per cent of this year’s total trade, highlighting the robust revival of India’s physical bazaars and small traders.

He said that GST rate rationalisation fuels consumer demand. The report found that 72% of surveyed traders attributed higher sales volumes directly to reduced GST rates on daily-use items, footwear, garments, confectionery, home decor, and consumer durables. Consumers also expressed greater satisfaction with stable pricing, which encouraged sustained festive spending.

The trade leaders said that Trader and consumer sentiments are at a decade high. They added that Trader Confidence Index (TCI): 8.6 / 10 and Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) stands at 8.4, with both traders and consumers believing that increased consumption is sustainable, driven by stable inflation, higher disposable income, and confidence in the national economy.

Delhi