one18

Stories

First-time shoppers double from last year | First-time shoppers during the opening two days doubled compared with the same period last year, Redseer Strategy Consultants Associate Partner Nikhil Dalal told PTI. Dalal said the consultancy expected around 100 million shoppers to participate during the entire 11-day first leg of the festive sale. (Image: Canva)
C
CNBC TV18•20-10-2026, 16:58
India Online Retail Market to Surpass 90 Billion Dollars in 2026 Driven by Grocery Growth
  • •India's online retail market is projected to cross 90 billion dollars in 2026 with an annual growth rate of 22 to 24 percent.
  • •Grocery is set to overtake mobile phones as the second-largest e-commerce category behind fashion due to flat mobile sales.
  • •Grocery, beauty and personal care, and home and furniture will account for about 40 percent of overall online retail GMV in 2026.
  • •Electronics saw a 22 percent rebound in the first half of 2026 driven by GST reductions and heavy discounting on appliances.
  • •Festive online sales leading up to Diwali are forecast to expand around 25 percent year-on-year to reach 15 to 16 billion dollars.
Read Full Article on CNBC TV18 in English

Key Questions Answered

India's online retail market is projected to exceed $90 billion in 2026, registering an annual growth rate of 22-24% which marks its fastest expansion in five years. This growth is primarily driven by everyday consumption categories like grocery rather than mobile phones.

Mobile sales experienced flat growth during the first half of 2026 and are projected to grow by just 2-3% for the full year. This stagnation is driven by sharp price increases that are curbing sales volumes and causing mobile phones to drop in market share.

The electronics segment experienced a 22% rebound in H1 2026 due to pre-loaded demand. Key drivers included a GST reduction on large appliances from 28% to 18% in September 2025, heavy discounting on air conditioners due to BEE star rating changes, an LPG shortage causing a surge in induction cooktops, and early laptop purchases.

Similar Stories

People are keeping their phones for longer | The smartphone upgrade cycle has already been getting longer. In 2014, 44% of iPhone owners replaced their phones every one to two years, according to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners data cited by The Atlantic. Today, consumers are increasingly keeping their smartphones for three years or longer, while 76% of buyers say they would wait until new capabilities feel worth the cost before upgrading. (Image: Canva)

India's Microdrama Boom: Can Bite-Sized Shows Turn Profit Beyond Mobile Novelty?

C
CNBC TV18
Image: Anthony DELANOIX via Unsplash

India's M&E Industry Soars to ’2.78 Lakh Crore, Driven by Digital and Live Events

S
Storyboard
E-commerce festive sales cross ₹24,000 crore | E-commerce platforms recorded goods worth more than $2.5 billion, or around ₹24,200 crore, in gross merchandise value (GMV) during the first two days of the festive season sale, according to Redseer Strategy Consultants. The consultancy estimated that GMV was around six times the average daily business during a normal period. (Image: Canva)

Festive Online Sales Cross 24,000 Crore in Just Two Days

C
CNBC TV18
D2C Shipments Surge 31.4% During Festive Sale With Tier 3 Cities Driving 45% Of Orders

D2C Shipments Surge 31.4% During Festive Sale With Tier 3 Cities Driving 45% Of Orders

S
Storyboard
APAC advertising market set to reach US$276.1 billion in 2026, says MPA

APAC Ad Market to Hit $276 Billion by 2026 as Retail Media, Online Video Surge

S
Storyboard
The creator base also includes 25% first-time creators, according to Meesho, indicating that the platform's content-commerce ecosystem is drawing participants who are new to the creator economy.

Meesho Creator Commerce Surges 152 Percent as Tier 3 and 4 Markets Drive Growth

S
Storyboard