News for 'Consumer India'

India's Housing Finance Sector Hits Home Run

India's Housing Finance Sector Hits Home Run

Rediff.com29 Oct 2025

India's housing finance sector is riding a wave of post-pandemic revival, driven by policy support, digital innovation, and growing demand from younger homebuyers in emerging cities.

India's Diwali sales cross record Rs 6 lakh crore: CAIT

India's Diwali sales cross record Rs 6 lakh crore: CAIT

Rediff.com21 Oct 2025

India's Diwali sales touched a record Rs 6.05 lakh crore -- comprising Rs 5.40 lakh crore in goods and Rs 65,000 crore in services -- buoyed by the recent GST reform and strong consumer sentiment, traders' lobby CAIT said on Tuesday. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) based its findings on a nation-wide survey across 60 major distribution centres including state capitals and Tier 2 & 3 cities conducted by its research wing.

'Sensex Captures Changing Structure Of Economy'

'Sensex Captures Changing Structure Of Economy'

Rediff.com26 Dec 2025

'Only four or five original companies remain; the rest have been replaced every decade as sectors evolve or leadership shifts.' 'Companies that fail to adapt -- like many textile mills from the 1970s and shipping firms from the 1980s -- disappear.' 'Benchmark indices reward those who reinvent themselves in line with economic demands.'

Consumer goods companies bank on festivals for urban demand revival

Consumer goods companies bank on festivals for urban demand revival

Rediff.com2 Aug 2025

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies, retail firms, and producers of consumer durables are witnessing stable urban demand. However, people in the trade are waiting for clearer signs of revival closer to the festival season, starting in September.

India's domestic IT spend set to touch $176 bn in 2026: Gartner

India's domestic IT spend set to touch $176 bn in 2026: Gartner

Rediff.com19 Nov 2025

India's information technology (IT) spend is projected to touch $176.3 billion in 2026, rising 10.6 per cent from 2025, and outpacing the 9.8 per cent growth expected globally, according to the latest forecast by Gartner Inc., a business and technology insights company.

Power wars hit Indian boxing in 2025 but new World Champs rise

Power wars hit Indian boxing in 2025 but new World Champs rise

Rediff.com27 Dec 2025

The year began on an unusually dull note with boxers absent from most international competition in the aftermath of a medal-less Olympic campaign.

Inflation data and activities of foreign investors to drive markets

Inflation data and activities of foreign investors to drive markets

Rediff.com14 Dec 2025

WPI inflation data, trading activity of foreign investors and global cues would dictate trends in the stock market this week, analysts said.

RBI trims rate by 25bps to 5.25%; loans to get cheaper

RBI trims rate by 25bps to 5.25%; loans to get cheaper

Rediff.com5 Dec 2025

Shrugging off concerns over the depreciation of rupee, the RBI has cut interest rate by 25 basis points to 5.25 per cent in a bid to further bolster economic growth, which rose to a six-quarter high of 8.2 per cent in the second quarter of the current financial year.

Truth About Mustard Oil: Health Gains & Side Effects Explained

Truth About Mustard Oil: Health Gains & Side Effects Explained

Rediff.com10 Dec 2025

Everything tastes better with a little mustard. But how does your body feel about mustard oil?

Retail inflation rises to 0.71% in Nov

Retail inflation rises to 0.71% in Nov

Rediff.com12 Dec 2025

Retail inflation inched up to 0.71 per cent in November on rising prices of vegetables, protein-rich items, and fuel, government data showed on Friday. The consumer price index (CPI)-based retail inflation had fallen to a record low of 0.25 per cent in October, mainly due to lower prices helped by GST rate cuts and a favourable base.

When One Airline -- Indigo -- Rules the Air

When One Airline -- Indigo -- Rules the Air

Rediff.com15 Dec 2025

India's duopoly in the domestic skies -- where IndiGo and Air India collectively control over 90 per cent of the market -- is highly skewed, leaving very little room for new players

Foreign investors, currency movement, macro data to drive markets

Foreign investors, currency movement, macro data to drive markets

Rediff.com21 Dec 2025

Stock markets are likely to trade in a range-bound manner in a holiday-shortened week where trading activity of foreign investors, currency movement and global macroeconomic data announcements are expected to drive sentiments, analysts said. Several global markets may see subdued activity on account of Christmas and New Year holidays, an expert said.

Airfares May Surge After Court Order

Airfares May Surge After Court Order

Rediff.com19 Dec 2025

The cost of any flight from Delhi and Mumbai could rise by up to Rs 3,000 soon unless the airport regulator is able to reverse a court order.

Home, auto loans to get cheaper as RBI cuts interest rate

Home, auto loans to get cheaper as RBI cuts interest rate

Rediff.com5 Dec 2025

Shrugging off concerns over the depreciation of rupee, the RBI has cut interest rate by 25 basis points to 5.25 per cent in a bid to further bolster economic growth, which rose to a six-quarter high of 8.2 per cent in the second quarter of the current financial year.

India signs first LPG term deal with US to import 2.2 mt of cooking gas

India signs first LPG term deal with US to import 2.2 mt of cooking gas

Rediff.com18 Nov 2025

In a first, Indian oil public sector undertakings (PSUs) finalised a one-year contract to import around 2.2 million tonnes (mt) of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from the US. The LPG import deal comes at a time when negotiations for an India-US bilateral trade agreement (BTA) are gathering steam. Earlier in the month, US President Donald Trump had said Washington and New Delhi were "pretty close" to reaching a fair trade deal.

Maruti Suzuki plans to localise EV components in next few years

Maruti Suzuki plans to localise EV components in next few years

Rediff.com15 Dec 2025

Maruti Suzuki India plans to localise battery production and other critical components over the next few years as part of strengthening the overall EV ecosystem in the country. The company, which plans to launch its first electric vehicle - e VITARA in the domestic market next year, is looking to instill confidence in the buyers as it looks to strengthen the overall EV ecosystem.

IPO wave big validation of tech ecosystem: SoftBank exec

IPO wave big validation of tech ecosystem: SoftBank exec

Rediff.com16 Dec 2025

SoftBank's early India bets are beginning to deliver. The Japanese investor, which clocked nearly 5.4x returns on Lenskart and chose to stay invested in Meesho ahead of its public listing, has so far returned close to $7 billion from India to its global investors.

The Man Challenging 18% GST On Air Purifiers

The Man Challenging 18% GST On Air Purifiers

Rediff.com27 Dec 2025

'If a common man wants to buy an air purifier for Rs 10,000, then he will have to shell out Rs 11,800 with 18 percent GST.' 'If he is charged GST at 5 percent the same air purifier will cost Rs 10,500.' 'This saves a one time amount of Rs 1,300 -- and that too just to breathe clean air.'

Protein Craze Sweeps India

Protein Craze Sweeps India

Rediff.com10 Oct 2025

How much protein is needed for a healthy daily diet? A healthy adult needs a minimum of 0.80 gram of protein for every kilogramme of body weight per day. The average consumption of protein in India is around 62 gm per day, which is way lower than the global average of 78 gm.

20% Shopping Centres Are Ghost Malls

20% Shopping Centres Are Ghost Malls

Rediff.com12 Dec 2025

Ghost malls have a vacancy rate of over 50 per cent.

How insurers stand to gain from GST rate cut

How insurers stand to gain from GST rate cut

Rediff.com4 Dec 2025

The exemption of individual life and health insurance premiums from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) enables the insurance industry to make products affordable and attractive, said Ajay Seth, chairman of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) at the Business Standard BFSI Insight Summit 2025.

TVs may be costlier from January due to memory chips shortage, weak rupee

TVs may be costlier from January due to memory chips shortage, weak rupee

Rediff.com15 Dec 2025

Prices of televisions are expected to rise by 3-4 per cent from January next year on account of the rising cost of memory chips and depreciation of the rupee, which recently crossed the 90-to-a-dollar mark for the first time.

GST 2.0 Puts Luxury Cars In Fast Lane

GST 2.0 Puts Luxury Cars In Fast Lane

Rediff.com10 Dec 2025

India's luxury auto market is rebounding after a slow start to 2025, with GST 2.0 emerging as the main catalyst.

India to emerge as largest scotch market

India to emerge as largest scotch market

Rediff.com10 Nov 2025

India is poised to become the largest global scotch whisky market in value and volume terms over the next few years, fuelled by competitive intensity, premiumisation and economic growth, Scotch Whisky Association chief executive Mark Kent CMG has said.

Tier-II, -III mkts make 62% of new health insurance policies

Tier-II, -III mkts make 62% of new health insurance policies

Rediff.com12 Dec 2025

Tier-II, Tier-III, and rural regions accounted for 62 per cent of all new health insurance policies sold by insurers so far in 2025-26 (FY26), according to a Policybazaar report. These regions are also witnessing a rise in the sum assured opted by customers.

Yamaha Gears Up for India's E2W Race With 2 Models

Yamaha Gears Up for India's E2W Race With 2 Models

Rediff.com14 Nov 2025

Yamaha expects its first EVs to hit showrooms by the last quarter of FY26 (January - March), once network readiness is complete.

Do Indians Need Sunscreen?

Do Indians Need Sunscreen?

Rediff.com12 Dec 2025

In India, many still aren't fully aware of the need for proper sun protection.

3 key factors that helped India's manufacturing sector grow in Oct

3 key factors that helped India's manufacturing sector grow in Oct

Rediff.com3 Nov 2025

India's manufacturing sector activity strengthened in October, buoyed by Goods and Services Tax relief, productivity gains and tech investment, even as international sales rose at a weaker pace, a monthly survey said on Monday.

Integrated Customs platform on cards in digitisation push

Integrated Customs platform on cards in digitisation push

Rediff.com16 Dec 2025

To digitise Customs processes, the Union finance ministry is planning to integrate the Indian Customs Electronic Gateway (ICEGATE), Risk Management System (RMS), and Indian Customs Electronic Data Interchange System (ICES) into a single unified national Customs platform, according to government sources.

Gold, silver rally to extend record run

Gold, silver rally to extend record run

Rediff.com14 Dec 2025

Gold and silver prices are poised to maintain their record-setting rally in the coming week as investors focus on global inflation data and key macroeconomic indicators that shape central bank policy paths, analysts said.

Pan masala cess to boost public health, security

Pan masala cess to boost public health, security

Rediff.com8 Dec 2025

Experts said that earmarking of funds for public health at par with national security indicates a key policy shift.

Sensex down 275 points on fag-end selling

Sensex down 275 points on fag-end selling

Rediff.com10 Dec 2025

Among the Sensex constituents, Eternal, Trent, Bharti Airtel, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, UltraTech Cement, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Bajaj Finance, Tata Consultancy Services, Bharat Electronics Ltd, Larsen & Toubro and Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles were the laggards. However, Tata Steel, Sun Pharmaceuticals, ITC, NTPC, Reliance Industries, HCL Technologies, PowerGrid, and Asian Paints were among the gainers.

AI Phones Catch India's Eye

AI Phones Catch India's Eye

Rediff.com13 Oct 2025

GenAI smartphones are mobile devices that leverage large-scale, pre-trained GenAI models to create original content or perform contextually aware tasks.

Sensex sheds 436 pts on profit booking in bank, oil shares

Sensex sheds 436 pts on profit booking in bank, oil shares

Rediff.com9 Dec 2025

Among the Sensex constituents, Asian Paints, Tech Mahindra, HCL Technologies, Tata Steel, Maruti Suzuki India, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Tata Consultancy Services, ICICI Bank, Bajaj Finance, UltraTech Cement, Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles were the laggards. However, Eternal, Titan, Adani Ports, Bharat Electronics Ltd, State Bank of India, Bajaj Finserv, NTPC and Bharti Airtel were among the gainers.

Sweet Dreams: How A Banker Became A Chocolatier

Sweet Dreams: How A Banker Became A Chocolatier

Rediff.com18 Dec 2025

'If I were a housewife, it would have been Ok. But I was set in my job and then suddenly I quit.'

India's festive hiring rises 17%; gig, temp roles see 25% surge this year

India's festive hiring rises 17%; gig, temp roles see 25% surge this year

Rediff.com11 Nov 2025

Overall hiring volumes grew by 17 per cent year-on-year across key consumption-linked sectors during the August-October period, driven by heightened consumer sentiment, attractive festive promotions, and wider geographic penetration, according to a report.

Startups go vertical in India's qcom race

Startups go vertical in India's qcom race

Rediff.com24 Oct 2025

As the quick commerce (qcom) race hots up, a new model - vertical qcom - is gaining investor attention. Unlike horizontal players such as Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart, which stock everything from groceries to gifts and gadgets, vertical platforms focus on depth over breadth.

Zydus PAT rises 38% on strong India, US growth

Zydus PAT rises 38% on strong India, US growth

Rediff.com7 Nov 2025

Ahmedabad-headquartered Zydus Lifesciences posted a 17 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) rise in revenue from operations to Rs 6,123 crore, while the net profit increased by 38 per cent to Rs 1,258.6 crore aided by consistent performance in the US and India formulations businesses.

'Can't be blaming weather, you continue to execute'

'Can't be blaming weather, you continue to execute'

Rediff.com13 Nov 2025

'The DNA of Tata Consumer Products is all food and beverage.'

India to scale down Russian oil import: White House

India to scale down Russian oil import: White House

Rediff.com24 Oct 2025

The White House has claimed that India has begun 'scaling back' its oil purchases from Russia at the 'request' of President Donald Trump.