Festive Season

After festive rush, truck rentals dip in November: Shriram Mobility report

Truck rental rates (round trips) on key trunk routes like Delhi-Chennai-Delhi and Delhi-Bengaluru-Delhi declined by 1.4 per cent

Post-festive slump: UPI volume down 7%, value drops 8% in November

In October, UPI recorded 16.58 billion transactions worth Rs 23.5 trillion-the highest since the digital payment system became operational in April 2016

Petrol, diesel consumption rebounds in November on festival demand

India's petrol and diesel consumption soared in November as the festive season reversed a fall in demand witnessed in previous months, preliminary data of state-owned firms showed on Friday. While petrol sales had shown a year-on-year increase, diesel has been a laggard since monsoon and November was the first month that saw positive growth in consumption. Petrol sales of three state-owned firms, which control 90 per cent of the fuel market, soared 8.3 per cent to 3.1 million tonnes in November compared to 2.86 million tonnes of consumption in the same month last year. Diesel demand was up 5.9 per cent to 7.2 million tonnes. Petrol and diesel sales have been tepid during the monsoon months as rains reduced vehicular movement and demand for the agriculture sector. Petrol demand however soared once rains eased but diesel consumption lagged year-on-year. Month-on-month petrol sales were up 4.7 per cent when compared to 2.96 million tonnes of consumption in October. Diesel demand was

Credit card spends rise 14.5% in October on festive season purchases

Net addition in cards in October stood at 786,337

Festive sales boost e-commerce to $14 bn GMV as tier-II+ cities lead growth

Fashion segment and electronics driven by quick commerce platforms in major cities Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore

Tier-II and Tier-III cities fuel festive season sales: ClickPost report

There has been a 49% increase in online sales during the festive season, a 10 per cent growth over the 39% witnessed in 2023, according to a report by logistics intelligence platform ClickPost

Stress, isolation, burnout: The hidden cost of festive boom on gig workers

Since Covid-19, gig work has boomed, with workers hopping from task to task, but the recognition of their challenges still lags, leaving them to navigate hurdles solo

UPI sets new record in Oct with 16.58 bn transactions worth Rs 23.5 trn

Growth in transactions driven by person to merchant transactions during festival season

Fintech firms capitalise on digital gold rush this festive season

Firms store physical gold in vaults to back up the accumulated gold stored digitally in a user's account

Indian Railway enhances security measures for passengers amid festive rush

Amid the festive rush, Indian Railways is making every effort to ensure safe travel for the passengers and avoid any untoward incidents, the Railway Ministry said on Wednesday. "Transporting people across India during Diwali and Chhath is a challenging task, but after successfully managing similar operations during Navratri and Durga Puja, Indian Railways is now fully prepared to help the commuters reach their native places for the ongoing Diwali and the upcoming Chhath celebrations," the ministry said in a press statement. It also urged the passengers that if they come across any suspicious substances on railway premises, they should inform it to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) using the designated helpline 139 and the RailMadad portal. "As Diwali approaches, bringing light, joy and a surge in travel across the country, the RPF has implemented strengthened safety measures to ensure secure and seamless train journeys for millions of passengers," the statement said. "To ensure sa

From Reliance to Unilever, firms worried about low consumer demand in India

At least 7 of India's largest companies, including RIL's retail arm and consumer bellwether Hindustan Unilever Ltd., have flagged softer consumption demand and a challenging operating environment

Businesses expect strong sales as Diwali shoppers balance budget, big plans

The roads are jammed and shops chock-a-block as people make beelines for malls and markets to grab just the perfect gift to make the festival of lights a memorable affair for their loved ones. Dinner sets, beauty hampers, gourmet food baskets, electronic gadgets, and the ever reliable chocolates and mithai, the options are endless for the fervent Diwali shoppers but the task is to balance budgets with big expectations. Samriti Khanna, a homemaker in her 30s, knows it too well as she treads the fine line between temptation and staying within budget. "The temptation to give innovative and expensive gifts to your near and dear ones is always there but one can't go out of budget too. The key is in finding the right balance," Khanna told PTI. On her shopping list is an eclectic mix of home decor for friends, smartwatch for her husband, board games for children and home appliances for house helps. "Gifting during the Diwali festival comes with a huge responsibility. I guess zeroing in o

Festive boost: Flipkart records 7.2 billion customer engagement visits

The e-commerce firm also witnessed a record 282 million unique visitors during the period, primarily driven by premiumisation and personalised preferences, especially in metros and Tier-2+ cities

Kerala fireworks accident: Over 150 injured, 8 critical at temple festival in Kerala's Kasaragod

216k festive season jobs recorded in logistics, e-com, hospitality: Apna.co

This hiring trend is not limited to major metro cities; Tier-II and Tier-III cities are also experiencing a significant rise in job opportunities

Overall recruitment postings increases 20% this festive season: Report

Professional networking platform apna.co has reported a 20 per cent year-on-year increase in job postings to 2.16 lakh this festive season across logistics & operations, e-commerce, and hospitality. This year's festive season was particularly important for businesses looking to rebound after a slowdown in consumer spending during the summer and election periods. Companies were focused on driving sales beyond last year's numbers, according to apna.co. Additionally, the rapid expansion of the quick commerce industry contributed to this hiring momentum. Among the sectors, logistics and operations experienced the highest growth with a 70 per cent increase in job postings. Retail and e-commerce followed with a 30 per cent rise, while the restaurant and hospitality sector grew by 25 per cent. To meet the rising demand, logistics and mobility leaders like Rapido, Delhivery, Ekart, and Shiprocket have posted over 30,000 openings for roles like warehouse managers, logistics associates, ...

Samvat 2081: Top 10 Diwali picks for stocks

Zomato raises platform fee to Rs 10 as festive season demand spikes

With a reported order volume of 647 million in FY23, the Re 1 increase could add Rs 65 crore to Zomato's annual revenue

Amid slackness, RBI report confident of festive season boost to economy

"Stage is set for the private sector to deploy capital and invest in growth"

Froth covers Delhi's Yamuna ahead of festive season, posing health hazard

The Yamuna river in Delhi was seen covered with a thick layer of white froth on Friday with experts saying this poses health hazards for people especially as the festive season approaches. Multiple videos circulating on social media show vast sections of the river frothing, resembling clouds over the water, which gradually dissipated later in the day. Bhim Singh Rawat, Associate Coordinator of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers & People (SANDRP), told PTI, Normally, the upper segment of the Yamuna experiences significant flood spells, but this year, there have been none during the just-concluded southwest monsoon of 2024." "This is unusual, as the river generally witnesses at least a couple of low or medium flood spells in this segment every year, Rawat said. He highlighted that the pollution in the river is a serious concern affecting human health and wildlife near the river. While the river has some natural cleansing ability, pollution levels are alarming, he said, adding ..