Number Theory: The state of consumer sentiment ahead of the festive season

Here is what an HT analysis of the data shows

With the Navratras – the nine-day period leading to the Hindu festival of Dussehra – beginning today, the year-end festive season has entered an important phase. Festivities and religious sentiments aside, this is also believed to a period when consumer demand peaks in the Indian economy. What do we know about the prospects of festive season consumer demand this year?

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RBI’s Consumer Confidence Survey (CCS) which tracks consumer sentiment in 19 Indian cities – this makes it relevant to the urban economy, mostly – is a good data source to answer this question. Here is what an HT analysis of the data shows.