Fashion and beauty retail recovers marginally in August: RAI survey

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Sep 10, 2020

The Indian retail market, including fashion and beauty sectors, recovered marginally in August compared to July, but sales are still considerably lower, compared to 2019. 

 
The Indian beauty and wellness market saw sales drop by 56% in the month of August, compared to sales in August 2019, according to the Retailers Association of India’s sixth edition of its ‘Retail Business Survey’, accessed by ET Retail. The apparel sector saw sales drop by 54% in August, compared to August 2019, where sales and footwear sales were down by 47%.
 
“The retail industry has started to witness some green shoots, especially in states that are allowing retail to operate with fewer interruptions,” said RAI chief executive Kumar Rajagopalan, ET Retail reported.

“Support from governments at local levels across the country with the assurance of no more localised lockdowns will help fast-track recovery of sales during the upcoming festive season to almost to the same levels as last year … perhaps just 20% short of last year’s figures. Some segments may even do better.”
 
Results varied from region to region and, according to the RAI survey, South India’s overall retail sales were down by 46% year-on-year in August, followed by East India, where sales were down by 52%. West and North India saw the greatest year-on-year drop in sales in August, at 54%, less than in August 2019.

The RAI has requested the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure that state governments think carefully before imposing local lockdowns. Although most of the country is open for business, some coronavirus hotspots remain in partial lockdown as cases continue to rise.