A report says that the proposed survey will cover businesses across all National Industrial Classification (NIC) codes
Aimed at generating granular data on consumer spending patterns, the Centre is planning to introduce a nationwide retail consumption survey, as per a media report. The proposed survey will cover businesses across all National Industrial Classification (NIC) codes.
The report noted that this includes businesses ranging from utensils and machinery stores to pharmacies and apparel outlets. The move is likely to track consumer durables and non-durable retail sales as well.
The survey will be conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). The report highlighted that no timeline has been decided yet. The survey is expected to capture the value and volume of goods sold through retail establishments across the country and will measure purchases at the point of sale, unlike the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) which records the consumption by households during a specific period.
Call For National Retail Policy
Last year, the Retailers Association of India (Rai) urged the government to expedite the formulation and implementation of the National Retail Policy. A unified policy framework will reduce regulatory complexity, improve ease of doing business, encourage investment and support both modern and traditional retail, the association pointed out.
While retail and wholesale trades are included under MSMEs and allowed Udyam registration, benefits are currently limited to priority sector lending. Rai recommended that retail and wholesale MSMEs must be made eligible for all MSME benefits, at par with other sectors. On the modernisation front, the body recommended subsidised or reimbursed point of sale (POS) systems for small retailers, certification of secure, compliant POS hardware and software.
Amid mounting inflationary pressures, retail sales growth across the country eased to 5 per cent in May 2026, down from 7 per cent in April 2026. Data by Rai showed that essential categories continued to drive retail demand.
The round 71 of RAI’s monthly business survey showed that west India led retail growth at 6 per cent, followed by north and south India at 5 per cent each. East India reported a relatively subdued growth of 4 per cent, reflecting a more measured pace of consumer demand.
