LocalCircles reported an average planned outlay of ₹20,000 for discretionary purchases in India’s urban festive season, while its season-wide estimate showed spending 6% below 2025. The poll covers September through November, a broader period than Diwali alone.
The group’s detailed estimate puts total urban festive spending at ₹1.97 lakh crore, compared with ₹2.10 lakh crore in 2025 and ₹1.85 lakh crore in 2024. However, the survey release gives two totals for 2026: an opening bullet lists ₹1.96 lakh crore, while its detailed estimate and summary give ₹1.97 lakh crore. The reported 6% decline is based on the detailed estimate.
LocalCircles said it received more than 67,000 responses from urban household consumers across 307 districts. Its budget question drew 22,904 responses and excluded regular expenses such as groceries, utilities, rent or EMIs, and school fees. Of those responses, 57% indicated planned discretionary spending, 31% planned none and 12% could not say.
In a separate question about planned purchases, 72% selected clothing, footwear and accessories. Home appliances and furniture, and travel and holidays, each drew 45% of responses. Participants could select multiple categories.
A separate funding question found that 83% expected to use savings to some extent. Savings were expected to cover at least a quarter of festive spending for 34% of respondents, including 16% who planned to fund it entirely from savings.
LocalCircles linked its lower 2026 estimate to inflation, the Reserve Bank of India’s Oct. 7 rate increase and the absence of a similar tax-related boost. The group cited Goods and Services Tax rate cuts that took effect Sept. 22, 2025, during the prior festive season. Its budget question asked how much people expected to spend, rather than what influenced their plans.
