New Delhi: India’s customers are getting into 2026 with 60 per cent of them planning to extend spending within the subsequent six months, together with fast adoption of generative synthetic intelligence (GenAI) for buying, a report stated on Monday. The report from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) stated that 60 per cent of Indian households count on to extend spending over the subsequent six months, led by cars and cellular gadgets.
India leads the world in GenAI use for buying, with 62 per cent of customers have used GenAI instruments in buying, with 64 per cent counting on them for model and product selections, it stated. Over 60 per cent of Indian customers anticipate continued financial optimism whereas solely about one third worry rising unemployment or an financial downturn.
The consultancy stated inflation is a significant driver for greater spending, with 69 per cent citing rising costs of necessities and non‑necessities. Parul Bajaj, India Chief-Advertising, Gross sales and Pricing Follow, BCG, stated manufacturers should assume past web optimization and do reply engine optimization with structured, reliable and comparison-ready content material.
As extra individuals apply GenAI to buying than even to work, India is rising as some of the superior markets globally in how expertise shapes consumption, he added. Kanika Sanghi, Companion and Director, BCG, stated that “at the same time as many international markets are seeing softening, Indian customers proceed to point out confidence, with 60 per cent anticipating to extend family spending over the subsequent six months”.
Solely 17 per cent customers consider that current international conflicts or political occasions will decelerate India’s progress. In distinction, this quantity is over 60 p.c for customers in UK, France and Germany.
Whereas about eight in 10 customers contemplate local weather change or sustainability when shopping for, solely 9–15 per cent is prepared to pay extra for sustainable choices. The report additionally famous inertia to check new manufacturers as 57 per cent say they’re open to new manufacturers however 84 per cent in the end stick to acquainted decisions.