Festive cheer is high, but shoppers are counting every rupee

The festival wallet is opening up. But Indian shoppers are being more selective about what goes into their carts. From big-ticket buys to festive essentials, early trends suggest consumers are still willing to spend, albeit with a sharper eye on price, value and utility.

According to global research and analytics firm YouGov’s India Festive Shopping Report 2026, based on a nationally representative survey of 1,077 consumers, 26% of consumers plan to stick to their usual festive budget but shop smarter. Another 23% intend to cut back on non-essential purchases, while only 14% said they expect to spend more than last year.