Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 21: India’s retail landscape witnessed an unprecedented boom this festive season, with Diwali 2025 sales surging to an all-time high of Rs 5.40 lac crore in goods and Rs 65,000 crore in services, according to data released by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). The figures mark a 25% rise over 2024’s festive turnover, making it the most successful season in the country’s trading history.
Driving this sharp increase were recent GST reductions across major consumer categories such as footwear, home decor, confectionery, ready-made garments, consumer durables, and daily essentials. These changes enhanced price competitiveness, boosted purchasing momentum, and were directly linked to increased sales volumes by 72% of traders surveyed. The CAIT Research and Trade Development Society attributed the surge to a blend of favorable tax reforms and strong consumer sentiment.
Mainline retail — traditional brick-and-mortar stores — accounted for 85% of total sales, marking a strong comeback for offline commerce in the age of e-commerce dominance. Alongside metro cities, rural and semi-urban regions contributed nearly 28% of the overall sales, reflecting deeper market penetration and rising purchasing power outside urban hubs.
Consumers reported satisfaction with stable prices despite heightened demand, and the trade momentum is expected to carry forward into the post-Diwali period. The non-corporate, non-agricultural sector — comprising over 9 crore small businesses and a vast base of micro-manufacturers — continues to form the backbone of India’s consumer economy.
This festive trade boom also generated temporary employment for an estimated 50 lac individuals across logistics, transport, packaging, retail assistance, and delivery services, further amplifying the season’s economic impact.
Hailing the Diwali surge as a “milestone in building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” CAIT credited the blend of tradition, technology, and trust in Indian enterprise for this record-breaking performance, underscoring the broader economic vision under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.