RBI survey: Urban consumer confidence slips for third round, discretionary spend turns negative

RBI's May 2026 surveys flag weakening urban demand: current situation index drops to 90.7 from 95.7, future expectations ease to 118.7, and discretionary spending sentiment flips to -0.8 from 0.8. With 91.6% of 6,086 respondents citing price rises and GDP cut to 6.5%, retailers face softer footfall ahead.

— Filed Mon, 8 Jun, 2026, 07:50 IST · Source Times of India · Business · Updated

RBI's May 2026 surveys show urban consumer confidence falling for a third straight round, with discretionary spending sentiment turning negative and GDP forecasts cut to 6.5%, signalling weaker demand for India's retail sector.