Sales of apparel, footwear, and cosnumer durables increased over 20% during the recent Navratri-Dussehra festive period. Car retail sales saw a slight increase of 2% despite last year's GST-driven rush. Appliance sales were particularly strong, with air conditioners experiencing a growth of more than 50%. However, smartphone and television sales faced challenges due to rising prices of memory chips.

Sales of apparel, footwear, refrigerators, air conditioners and washing machines increased more than 20% year-on-year during the Navratri-Dussehra festive period, alongside a modest uptick in volume or units sold, according to industry estimates. Executives attributed the growth to accessible financing options. Car retail sales increased 2% despite a high base created by last year's post-goods and services tax (GST) rate-cut buying rush. Around 1.03 million vehicles were sold during Navratri this year, between October 11-19, compared to last year's 1.01 million units, according to dealer estimates. Advt

Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations president Sai Giridhar said that the low growth in vehicle retail sales was not a like-for-like comparison, as last year saw huge pent-up demand following the GST rate cut. There were virtually no car sales for a month prior to the cut last year. Ashutosh Varma, chief business officer at the India business unit of the country's largest two-wheeler company, Hero MotoCorp , said Navratri retail sales exceeded last year's levels despite the high base. Scooter sales were a standout, he said. Iyer said average billing had increased 6-7%, while same-store sales accelerated more than 10%. Lifestyle and footwear retailer Woodland reported growth of more than 20% each, as did electronics chain Vijay Sales, with AC sales surging more than 50%.

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