India’s retail sales rise 6% in March 2025 amid steady domestic demand: RAI
India’s retail sector recorded a 6 per cent year-on-year sales growth in March 2025, according to the Retailers Association of India’s (RAI) 60th Retail Business Survey. The growth reflects stable domestic demand despite ongoing global trade uncertainties.
Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO of RAI, said retail businesses are showing signs of steady improvement, but double-digit growth remains elusive. “Customers are spending cautiously but are willing to invest in aspirational and innovative products. Discretionary spending keeps shifting across categories, preventing consistent month-on-month growth,” he noted.
Regionally, North and West India posted the highest growth at 8 per cent each, while East and South India reported a 5 per cent increase. Among categories, food and grocery led with an 11 per cent rise, followed by quick service restaurants (QSR) with 9 per cent growth.
The survey also pointed to a cautious but stable outlook among retailers, with no major drop in consumer spending. While concerns persist over the impact of global trade tensions, the current trend indicates that domestic consumption continues to remain resilient, supporting steady expansion across retail categories.
The RAI survey underscores that while caution prevails, India's retail sector is navigating global uncertainties with moderate but consistent growth.
