Akshaya Tritiya fuels festive Shopping, high prices cap big purchases

Indore: Akshaya Tritiya brought a steady footfall across gold showrooms, automobile dealerships and garment markets in Indore on Sunday but elevated prices capped big-ticket purchases and limited overall sales growth.The festival, coinciding with the wedding season, saw heavy crowding in key markets, packed parking spaces and traffic snarls in several parts of the city. Extreme heat kept footfall subdued through the afternoon but markets saw a sharp pickup in the evening with long queues at jewellery stores and retail hubs."Footfall was good, but higher prices are influencing buying decisions. Customers are cautious and spending selectively," said a trader.Traders said business was also spread out this year as the festival extended into April 20, which is expected to further divide peak-day sales even as overall turnout remains strong.High Gold Prices Keep Purchases Budget-DrivenJewellery showrooms saw strong footfall on Akshaya Tritiya, driven by the traditional belief of buying gold on the auspicious day, though elevated prices kept purchases largely budget-driven. Traders said demand was concentrated in lightweight jewellery and gold coins, with wedding-linked buying dominating sales. Families with upcoming weddings led enquiries and purchases, while leisure buying remained limited.Gold was trading at around Rs 1.54 lakh per 10 gram in Indore, while silver prices were about Rs 2.47 lakh per kg, prompting customers to opt for smaller-ticket items."There was a jump of around 30 percent in footfall at our showroom. Wedding collections saw encouraging enquiries and sales as this is the peak marriage season," a jewellery showroom partner Sumeet Anand said.Jewellers said sentiment remained positive, but high prices led to cautious spending, with customers focusing on value purchases rather than heavy ornaments.EVs See Strong Demand Automobile showrooms reported an uptick in bookings and dispatches on Akshaya Tritiya with festive sentiment driving enquiries across segments. Dealers said demand was particularly strong for electric vehicles, which saw a noticeable rise in enquiries and bookings. Some customers chose to schedule deliveries for Monday, as the festival this year spans two days, prompting staggered purchases. Showrooms also rolled out offers on accessories and finance schemes to attract buyers."We saw good footfall and a healthy number of bookings through the day. The actual trend will be clearer by Tuesday as Akshaya Tritiya is spread over Sunday and Monday this year," an automobile dealer Aditya Kasliwal said.Garment Shops Report 20% Rise In SalesGarment markets saw steady footfall on Akshaya Tritiya with most wedding-related purchases already completed in the days leading up to the festival. Traders said sales remained strong, supported by the ongoing marriage season. Shopkeepers reported over 20 percent growth in sales compared to regular days, with a significant share of demand coming from rural buyers from nearby areas. Markets such as Rajwada and MG Road witnessed consistent activity through the day."The last fortnight was very good in terms of business. Despite the rise in garment prices, purchasing remained strong due to the wedding season," Indore Retail Garments Association president Akshay Jain said.Readymade garment traders said prices have increased by over 10 pecent, but demand has held steady as consumers prioritised wedding shopping.