As the festive season approaches, the markets become more vibrant, but this time many families are checking their pockets before spending. In the latest survey by CVoter, 53.6% Indians admitted that the financial condition of their family has deteriorated in the last one year. Its effect is also visible on festival shopping. More than 35% people are planning to spend less this time compared to last year. Instead of buying expensive goods, people are focusing on essential items and local markets.
Problems increased for 53% families
According to the CVoter survey conducted among 2,051 people on 28 and 29 September 2026, only 11.6% people said that the financial condition of their family has improved. At the same time, the situation of 27.1% people remains the same. Economic problems are more in villages than in cities. 59.2% people in rural areas said that the financial condition of the family has deteriorated, whereas in cities this figure was 40.6%. 63.2% people in low income families said that their financial condition was bad. The number of people saying this in high income families was 26.3%.
People are no less worried about the coming year. 38% people feel that their financial condition may worsen. Whereas, 24.4% expect improvement. 24% said that the situation would remain the same, while 13.6% could not say anything.
Break even on shopping for clothes
Buying new clothes during festivals is a tradition for many families, but this time not everyone is shopping. In the survey, 45.4% people said that they are not planning to buy new clothes. On the other hand, about 45% people said that they are buying clothes for at least one member of the family. Of these, 16.9% want to buy clothes for the entire family, 20.4% for children, 6.2% for themselves and 4.8% for other family members.
There will be crowd at sweet shops
Despite reduction in expenditure, demand for traditional sweets remains. About 33% people want to buy sweets from local sweet shops. At the same time, 8.7% people are planning to buy both sweets and chocolates. The number of people buying local chocolates during festivals is 4.3%, while 3.1% people said to buy foreign chocolates.
People are avoiding buying expensive goods
Only 21.5% people said that they are thinking of buying kitchen appliances. At the same time, 18.5% people want to buy electronic goods. About 22% people told about buying two-wheeler, car, gold and silver jewelery or more than one of these things.
The picture is also mixed regarding repair and painting of the house. About 39% people said that they have got their house repaired or are planning to get it done. Of these, 14.6% work has been completed, while 24.5% is going to get further work done. At the same time, 50.2% people have no plans to get their house painted or repaired.
Distance from EMI to purchases or expenses?
In case of purchasing big items, 32.2% people are thinking of making full payment. At the same time, you can take the help of 12.8% EMI or installments. 14.7% people can use both full payment and installments methods. On the other hand, 32.1% people said that they are not going to make any big purchases.
People are also planning to travel
Despite the poor economic situation, people have seen a desire to travel during festivals. In the survey, 47.5% people talked about planning to travel with family. Of these, 15.7% people want to visit nearby places and 15.1% are planning a religious trip or pilgrimage. Apart from this, 5.1% people want to visit another state, 1.7% are thinking of international travel and 5.3% have not decided the place yet. At the same time, 47.5% people said that they will not go on any trip with the family.
Survey data shows that there is a desire to go shopping and traveling during festivals, but due to deteriorating household budget, people are being very cautious about big expenses.
Read also | Start these 5 cool businesses by investing Rs 10,000 in your village, you can earn huge income every month.
Source: ndtv.in
