World & BusinessIndia’s shift toward pricier homes, cars and phones
The Economic Times reports that 54% of home sales in eight major cities topped Rs 1 crore in the first half of 2026, while companies also see stronger premium demand in smaller towns and rural markets.
TLDR
The Economic Times describes households upgrading across homes, cars, travel, smartphones, appliances and everyday products, with companies seeing stronger premium demand in smaller towns and rural markets. In eight major cities, homes priced above Rs 1 crore accounted for 54% of sales in the first half of 2026, it reports. The outlet also cites Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman saying that sustaining consumption growth will require this shift to extend beyond urban India as incomes and aspirations rise.