Retailers continue to witness 67 per cent fall: Survey

Retailers continue to witness 67 per cent fall: Survey

The latest business survey conducted by the Retailers Association of India (RAI) with more than 100 big and small retailers revealed that there has been no significant growth in business for retailers even during the second half of June. Retailers witnessed 67 per cent degrowth from June 15 to June 30 compared to the corresponding period last year. During the same time frame, malls witnessed 77 per cent degrowth (y-o-y) on account of not being allowed to open uniformly across the country, high street retail showed degrowth of 62 per cent (y-o-y) in business despite being allowed to open across India. 

Commenting on the current state of retail despite the best efforts of the Central Government to open retail, Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, Retailers Association of India, said, “Although the quantum of degrowth marginally reduced in June 2020, The first quarter of FY21 continued to witness degrowth of -74 per cent. The figures depict a grim situation for not just retailers but the entire economy as retail is the backbone of consumption. The need of the hour is concerted efforts by all stakeholders— While retailers are doing their bit by following stringent hygiene practices, the policymakers too need to ensure uniform opening of all kinds of retail across the country.”

An earlier consumer sentiment survey by RAI had revealed that more than 60 per cent of the consumers will wait up to 90 days before shopping, keeping in mind expenditure and safety factors.  This has resulted in slow growth for the retail sector throughout June. The sentiment got reflected in categories like QSR and restaurants (-71 per cent), followed by beauty, wellness, and personal care (-69 per cent) and apparel, clothing, jewellery, watches and other personal accessories (-67 per cent).

As work from home continues in several places across the country even as we move further into unlock, it has reflected into a faster recovery for consumer durables (-19 per cent), followed by furniture and furnishing (-44 per cent) and food and grocery (-40 per cent) in June 2020 compared to June 2019. High street retail stores are leading this recovery across these categories, while business in malls continues to be in deep red.

In June, large size retailers (>300cr) witnessed a degrowth of 59 per cent (y-o-y) and small retailers (<300cr sales) witnessed a degrowth of 69 per cent. Region-wise findings indicate that West (-74 per cent) and North (-71 per cent) continue to suffer the most. East and South both signalled a 62 per cent fall in sales.

With Unlock 2.0 on the cards in the next few days and several sectors opening up, retail can hope for a revival of consumption and signs of recovery at least in the second quarter of the year.

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