Image of crackers used for representational purpose only. 
Business

Diwali sales spike 20 per cent to Rs 30,000 crore: Traders body

In 2017, the total sales stood at Rs 25,000 crore, CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal said in a statement Thursday.

From our online archive

MUMBAI: The national traders body CAIT has said there was a 20 per cent volume growth during Diwali sales across the country at Rs 30,000 crore.

In 2017, the total sales stood at Rs 25,000 crore, CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal said in a statement Thursday.

"During last four years, there was a slump during Diwali sales. However, this year traders did good business during compared to last year," Khandelwal said.

In Delhi alone, sales volume crossed over Rs 5,000 crore, he added.

Consumer durables like electronics and electrical items and FMCG products like decoration and gift items, dry fruits, sweets & snacks, readymade garments, biscuits, confectionary items etc, did brisk business, he said, adding traders of computer and computer peripherals, paints, hardware, and kitchen appliances and  equipment also saw a spike in their volumes.

Khandelwal reiterated that widening e-commerce without any regulations is causing loss to offline trade and demanded setting up of a regulatory authority.

"In absence of a proper e-commerce policy, online companies are doing business without any checks and balances.

The government should frame an e-commerce policy immediately and set up a regulatory authority to regulate and monitor them," he said.

Pakistan minister to visit India for first time in three years for SCO forum

India edge Pakistan by one wicket in last-ball thriller to win ninth U-19 Asia Cup

‘You cannot fight politically, so it is a bulldozer, sometimes a false case’: Abhishek Banerjee

US scramble to resume flights after longest nationwide ground stop in 25 years, 2,000 flights cancelled

Supriya Sule rules out NCP merger, says talks ended with Ajit Pawar’s untimely demise