Indian consumers amongst most optimistic in Asia as 75% expect higher income

Around 73% of consumers plan to increase spending on groceries.

Indian consumers remain amongst the most optimistic in Asia, with 75% expecting their income to rise over the next two years, according to Roland Berger’s Asia Consumer Study 2026.

Around 73% of consumers plan to increase spending on groceries, whilst 67% expect to spend more on clothing and footwear, and 68% on education.

Education remains a particularly strong priority, with 70% of young consumers aged 18–30 and 72% of those aged 31–50 planning higher education-related expenditure.

Despite frequent comparisons with China’s earlier consumption boom, the report noted that India is still at a relatively early stage of its consumer development cycle.

Current conditions are broadly comparable to Mainland China around 2008, before its rapid consumption acceleration. However, India’s growth trajectory differs significantly due to slower income expansion, ongoing infrastructure development, fragmented logistics, and a more diverse and less urbanised population.

Even so, consumer behavior is shifting decisively toward quality and branding. About 69% of Indian consumers now prioritize product quality and brand reputation over price, driving a steady move toward premium offerings in categories such as groceries, apparel, and personal care.

Global and heritage brands continue to dominate in categories like fashion and beauty, but domestic brands are gaining ground as consumers show greater openness to newer, high-quality local options.

In the luxury segment, 59% of consumers prioritise quality and brand reputation.

At the same time, preference for domestic luxury brands is rising, reaching 43%—up three percentage points from 2024—whilst brand loyalty has also strengthened to 45%, up two points year-on-year.