The Bharatiya Janata Party government in West Bengal on Wednesday made it mandatory for persons to obtain a certificate before slaughtering animals such as buffaloes, cows and bulls. The administration barred public slaughter of the animals and said officials carrying out inspections to enforce the
The United Arab Emirates said on Thursday (May 14, 2026) it "denies reports" that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the country, after Mr. Netanyahu's office said he had met with the UAE President during the war with Iran. Mr. Netanyahu's office said on Wednesday (May 13
Lucknow, May 14 (PTI) Still in the hunt for a playoff berth despite an erratic campaign, Chennai Super Kings will look to continue their recent resilient run when they take on the already-eliminated Lucknow Super Giants in an IPL match here on Friday.Lucknow
For the past few years, millets have enjoyed a remarkable glow-up. Once considered humble staples in many Indian homes, grains like bajra, jowar and ragi are now being marketed as modern superfoods—pitched as the answer to everything from weight loss and diabetes to better digestion and heart
Iran could be only weeks away from producing weapons-grade uranium, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned lawmakers, raising fresh concerns over Tehran’s nuclear programme amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee
Fireworks continue in retail as tax cuts keep buyers in good spirits
Fashion and electronics sales surged 15-20% over the weekend, driven by GST rate cuts and the festive season's start. This boosted spending in northern and southern regions, though heavy rains impacted eastern and western markets. Retailers are offering discounts to recover from a weak September, while FMCG price reductions will take time to reflect.
Mumbai: Demand for fashion and electronics saw a 15-20% jump in sales over the weekend after the government slashed GST rates on consumer goods, triggering a surge in spending particularly in northern and southern regions although heavy rains dampened turnout in parts of the east and west.
The GST that took effect on Monday in categories including clothing, electronics, footwear, and groceries were aimed at reviving household spending. The timing also coincided with the onset of the festive season, which typically drives the highest annual consumer spending in India.
"It is a great start to the weekend with strong double-digit growth. It is driven by a combination of factors including end of Shraddh and start of festivities as well as GST reduction," said Devarajan Iyer, chief executive officer at Lifestyle International, India's biggest departmental chain. "There is surely a positive sentiment in the market and while it is too early, we hope the momentum continues."
However, heavy rainfall across parts of Maharashtra, West Bengal and Odisha led to reduced store footfalls, especially in suburban and non-metro markets.
V-Mart, which largely operates in small towns, said a lot of demand is impacted due to seasonality and is not entirely led by GST or festive season. "The sentiment is positive and consumption boost should reflect in the long term," said V-Mart chairman Lalit Agarwal.
Electronic industry executives said while online sales are growing at over 30% year-on-year due to Amazon and Flipkart's largest sale of the year, even retail offtake have picked up in South and North this weekend though there is some impact in markets like West due to heavy rains. The GST revamp involved the scrapping of the 12% and 28% slabs, retaining the 5% and 18% levies. Most items of daily use are now at the lowest slab or at zero GST.
Kamal Nandi, head of the appliances business at Godrej Enterprises, said sales trends had improved compared to last year.
"Overall sentiments are much better than last year and end-consumer sales have picked up. We have grown in retail by 15-20% over last year, driven by premium products," said Kamal Nandi, head of appliance business at Godrej Enterprises.Despite the GST cuts, many retailers had seen subdued traffic earlier in the week during Navratri and to help bring higher footfalls, brick-and-mortar stores increased discounts to match aggressive online pricing.
Retailers are facing pressure to recover volumes quickly after a weak start before the festive month and losses from the GST transition period. "In September, most retailers were in deep red due to negligible sales," said Pulkit Baid, director of Great Eastern Retail, a leading electronics chain in the east. "Now with a short window to recover, many are offering extra discounts to hit their numbers. Hence prices are abnormally low."
Vijay Sales director Nilesh Gupta said there is 35-40% growth in sales during the weekend which has come as a big relief as business had declined by 50% across categories in the GST transition period. "However, we can gauge whether this is pent-up demand or real demand due to GST cut only after Dussehra," he said.
For consumer goods firms selling household and personal care products, business was as usual. Most companies flagged supply chain disruptions which will affect their primary sales to distributors in September and October. For instance, Hindustan Unilever and Godrej Consumer Products have said there will be a transitory impact in the form of disruption at distributors and retailers across channels to clear existing inventories with old prices.
GCPL MD Sudhir Sitapati said consumer goods firms operate under an MRP regime, and current inventory is priced at higher MRPs and lower price-tags will take time to reflect in the market.
"By early or mid-next month, consumers will start seeing reduced prices on FMCG products. September may therefore be somewhat choppy, with pipeline changes and stock adjustments, but this is temporary. From Q3 onwards, we expect stronger growth momentum," he said.
Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
Source: EconomicTimes
Related Posts: India’s Fish Production Has Surged By 38% Under PMMSY Muslim population In Assam Surged To 39 India’s Power Transmission Capacity Surged From 75 Mini Fashion, Mega Sales Fashion retailer Zalando loses EU court battle over online content rules Italian fashion designer Valentino dies aged 93 High stakes for high fashion Fashion, billionaires and jokes Kareena Kapoor’s 5 most iconic movie looks that still rule fashion mood boards Antonelli steps up his level in dramatic fashion
Moving on from his controversial past, England call back pacer and call him 'world class'During the India tour in 2024, the fast bowler ran his mouth on a podcast, and on the field of play performed terribly. Updated on: May 14, 2026 10:49 AM IST Written by Prateek Srivastava Share via Copy link
9 hours ago
India on Wednesday banned exports of raw, white and refined sugar with immediate effect until September 30, as the government moved to contain domestic prices and protect supplies amid uncertainty linked to the war in West Asia, Reuters reported
9 hours ago
Heavy security at AIADMK headquarters in Chennai following internal splitThe party is currently facing a significant internal rift, with one faction led by its general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and a dissident group. Updated on: May 14
9 hours ago
Sugar stocks traded lower on Thursday after the Centre banned sugar exports with immediate effect till September 30, 2026, in a move aimed at ensuring adequate domestic availability and controlling prices. Following the announcement, shares of major sugar companies came under pressure and traded
9 hours ago
Had there been morality, NEET paper would not have leaked: Rajasthan GovernorHad there been morality, NEET paper would not have leaked: Rajasthan Governor Published on: May 14, 2026 12:45 AM IST PTI Share via Copy link Kota, If there had been any morality, the NEET paper would not have leaked
9 hours ago
The central government has banned sugar exports with immediate effect till September 30, 2026, or until further orders, in a move aimed at safeguarding domestic supplies and ensuring food security amid concerns over production and availability
9 hours ago
As US President Donald Trump touches down in Beijing, Iran expresses hope that Xi Jinping will push for a solution to the Hormuz crisis. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Dr Kazem Gharibabadi, told CNN-News18 during a media interaction that since China too was suffering because of the Hormuz naval
9 hours ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Was your cabin suitcase stopped at the boarding gate again? Here’s how to avoid getting gate checked at the airportKeep your cabin suitcase with you by packing smarter using a
9 hours ago
As global health authorities continue to monitor the situation, the hantavirus outbreak linked to the expedition cruise ship MV Hondius has escalated, with nine confirmed cases reported so far and more expected in the coming weeks. Around 150 passengers and crew members have now begun returning
9 hours ago
An Indian woman travelling through Southeast Asia has shared her frustrating experience of allegedly being stopped from boarding a flight to Cambodia despite carrying valid documents and proof of funds. In an Instagram video, the traveller claimed she was asked to show hundreds of dollars in cash
9 hours ago
ChudTheBuilder update: What charges is streamer facing after shooting? Attempted murder, aggravated assault and moreChudTheBuilder, whose real name is Dalton Eatherly, has been charged in connection to a shooting outside a Tennessee courthouse. Published on: May 14
9 hours ago
The 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America faces a significant risk from soaring temperatures. Scientists warn that many matches could be played in dangerous heat conditions, potentially impacting player welfare and performance. Some games may even require postponement
9 hours ago
Kannada actor-producer Dileep Raj’s sudden death left everyone shocked and numb. Raj passed away in the wee hours of Wednesday due to a cardiac arrest. As the nation mourns the actor’s death, a new report has revealed some shocking details. If a report by Udayavani is to be believed
9 hours ago
Haryana Board HBSE 10th Class Result 2026 Date, Time, Direct Link at bseh.org.in Live Updates: The Board of School Education Haryana (BSEH) is all set to announce the HBSE Class 10 Result 2026 today, May 14. It will be released at noon. Once out
9 hours ago
A South Carolina court has overturned the 2023 murder convictions of Alex Murdaugh, a disgraced lawyer who was convicted of killing his wife and son. The state's supreme court on Wednesday ordered a new trial for Murdaugh over the June 2021 killings
9 hours ago
On a new TV tech turf, Xiaomi S Mini LED TV 75 makes a strong case for dominanceFor a TV with flagship aspirations taking the battle to Samsung and others, Xiaomi’s hardware foundation is overlaid with attentive image processing Published on: May 14
9 hours ago
Gurgaon man worked as Uber driver to pay rent and EMIs after being fired suddenlyThe Gurgaon man shared that the aftermath of being fired from the company where he had worked diligently and loyally was brutal. Published on: May 14, 2026 10:17 AM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link "Loyalty
9 hours ago
A woman who fought breast cancer comes back stronger and shares her story in a powerful reel. As one scrolls down @sriorcoimbatore page on Instagram, another reel pops up. It offers a simple advice on maintaining a healthy weight with a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables
9 hours ago
Absence of minister affecting General Education Dept functioning: CPI(M) leader SivankuttyAbsence of minister affecting General Education Dept functioning: CPI(M) leader Sivankutty Published on: May 14, 2026 9:05 AM IST PTI Share via Copy link Thiruvananthapuram
9 hours ago
In a thrilling encounter, Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr team clinched a 1-1 draw against rivals Al-Hilal thanks to a last-minute own goal. With the Saudi Pro League title hanging in the balance, Al-Nassr remains in the lead by a five-point margin
9 hours ago
Oklahoma man to be executed for killing ex-girlfriend, her 7-month-old daughterRaymond Johnson, 52, was scheduled to receive a lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. Updated on: May 14, 2026 10:59 AM IST AP Share via Copy link An Oklahoma man convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend and
9 hours ago
Senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan lauded the party's High Command for its transparent selection process for Kerala's next Chief Minister. He stated Rahul Gandhi was directly involved. Radhakrishnan expressed happiness with the democratic procedure
9 hours ago
LinkedIn Layoffs: The cuts are part of an internal reorganisation aimed at focusing resources on areas of stronger business growth, rather than a response to AI replacing roles. Microsoft-owned professional networking platform LinkedIn is preparing to reduce its workforce by around 5% as part of a
9 hours ago
Nahan (HP), May 14 (PTI) A suspect has been taken into custody after a woman’s partially burnt body was found in a forest near a police battalion camp in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmour district, police said. The body of the woman, who is stated to be in her late 30s
9 hours ago
Marathi signboards within a month or 'Shiv Sena-style' action: Mumbai deputy mayor to shops, hotelsThe Mumbai deputy mayor warned of a ‘Shiv Sena-style’ action if establishments fail to install prominently visible Marathi signboards. Updated on: May 14
9 hours ago
P. Krishnakumar, who guided Jammu and Kashmir to a historic maiden Ranji Trophy triumph this year as the side’s bowling coach, is also in line to be the third fast bowling coach. Former India pacers VRV Singh and Lakshmipathy Balaji will reportedly join the Board of Control for Cricket in
9 hours ago
Gold, Silver Rate Today May 14: Check 18, 22, 24 carat Gold prices in Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata Gold, Silver Rate Today, May 14: Gold prices continue to witness fluctuation amid the ongoing US war against Iran, causing uncertainty across the world markets. Earlier on Wednesday
9 hours ago
![New Delhi [India], May 14 (ANI): India, on Wednesday, banned sugar exports with immediate effect until September 30, 2026, or until further orders](http://newsorbit360.com/files/news/en/imgs/india-bans-sugar-exports-with-immediate-effect-until-september-2026.webp?width=120&height=70)
