India protests and crackdowns hit festive-season sales

India’s festive-season retail sales are being hit today as protests and security crackdowns disrupt shopping and logistics, Nikkei Asia reports. The disruption lands at the peak of the holiday buying window, when retailers and e-commerce platforms count on surging demand to lift quarterly results and annual targets. Any slowdown now could ripple across categories and temper marketing spend, according to Nikkei Asia.

Nikkei Asia says brick-and-mortar chains are seeing softer footfall while online marketplaces face delivery delays in affected areas. Brands are adjusting promotions and inventory planning amid uncertainty, and analysts warn sentiment could weaken if disruptions persist, the outlet notes. Watch for sales updates from major retailers and platforms, as well as any official guidance on restrictions and security measures in the coming days. [Developing. This article will be updated.]