Fashion pulse: India - March 2026

Consumer prices (March)

Fashion prices in India rose 2.81 percent year-on-year in March, below the overall inflation rate of 3.40 percent, according to India’s National Statistical Office (NSO). The clothing and footwear category, which carries a 6.53 percent weight in India’s consumer price index, has remained relatively stable, with inflation well contained despite broader price pressures. Rural areas saw slightly higher overall inflation at 3.63 percent compared to 3.11 percent in urban areas, according to the NSO. The divergence reflects different consumption patterns and supply chain dynamics between India’s urban centres and its vast rural market.