Retails sales recover to 96% of pre-Covid levels: RAI

• Follow

The Retailers Association of India (RAI) said that sales in September 2021 were at 96% of the pre-pandemic levels of the same month in 2019, as the sector shows signs of recovery. When compared to the September 2020, there was a 26% increase in sales last month, led by strong growth in South India at 33%, followed by east at 30% and 26% in west. According to RAI’s Business Survey, North India also registered a growth of 16%. It also said in a statement that consumer sentiments across the country are positive, with retail businesses nearing recovery across regions.

Apparel, clothing sales jump

Consumer durables and electronics, food and groceries and quick service restaurants (QSR) are the categories that have fully recovered and are showing double digit growth on pre-pandemic levels, RAI added.

It also said that sports goods, apparel and clothing have also started to pick up as socialising and offices resume, with normalcy returning to some level. However, categories like beauty and wellness, including salons, footwear and jewellery are yet to come back to pre-Covid levels of sales, it added.

RAI chief executive officer Kumar Rajagopalan said that the retail sector is showing signs of recovery, with businesses indicating sales that are almost equal to the pre-pandemic levels.

He added that, dussehra and diwali could be the turnaround period for retail businesses, provided there is no third wave of the pandemic, as consumer sentiments are looking up.