January retail sales restricted to 91 per cent of pre-pandemic levels: Retailers Association of India (RAI)

17 February 2022, Mumbai:

Pandemic-related restrictions restricted retail sales in India to just 91 per cent of pre-pandemic levels of January 2019 and 2020, indicates a survey by the Retailers Association of India (RAI).

Sales in the East declined 13 per cent year-on-year in January 2022 compared to January 2019. This was followed by the Western region where sales declined 11 per cent and North where sales dropped 8 per cent.

Least impact was in the Southern zone which registered a mere 2 per cent decline in sales as compared to January 2019, says RAI.

Beauty, wellness and personal care categories witnessed the biggest 24 per cent drop in sales compared to January 2019.

These were followed by furniture and furnishing where sales dropped 12 per cent; apparel and clothing registered 7 per cent decline in sales.

On the other hand, sales in the jewelry segment grew 11 per cent in January, as compared to the same month in 2019 and quick-service restaurants also witnessed a growth of 9 per cent.

ALSO READ: January retail sales restricted to 91 per cent of pre-pandemic levels: RAI

Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, RAI, says, sales growth can be attributed to opening of retail businesses across the country till late hours in the evening.

However, Delhi and Haryana are still not allowing stores to be open till late, which is creating a big impact on businesses, Rajagopalan adds.

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