ITC, Emami see uptick in discretionary consumer spend in September quarter

Four months since unlock began, demand for essentials remains robust but the frenzy is dying down

Four months into “unlocking India”, consumer spending in discretionary and out-of-home (OOH) segment is bouncing back while the first signs of moderation for essentials are showing up.

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies like ITC and Emami have seen a change in consumer trend during the September quarter over the April-June period when consumers were stocking up on staples or rushing to buy hand sanitisers to keep the Covid-19 pandemic at bay. Four months since then, the demand for essentials is still robust, but the frenzy is dying down; simultaneously, the discretionary segment – which was in the dumps – is