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Indian Festive Spending Up, AI Search Dominates Discovery

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By Business Desk•
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Indian Shoppers Boost Festive Spending, AI Search Now Key Driver

Infographic: Indian Shoppers Boost Festive Spending, AI Search Now Key Driver

Key Highlights

Indian shoppers plan increased festive spending, with AI search emerging as the top driver for brand discovery, a new survey reveals. Explore trends in jewelry, home appliances, and gadgets.

Good news for brands: nearly half of us Indian shoppers are planning to spend more this festive season. That’s a significant shift towards more thoughtful, higher-value purchases, moving away from impulse buys.

What’s in Your Festive Cart?

The MiQ Festive Shopper Insights India 2026 survey shows 45% of consumers are gearing up to increase their holiday spending compared to last year.

  • Jewellery leads as the category with the highest purchase intent.
  • Home appliances follow closely behind.
  • Personal gadgets are seeing a rebound, indicating a focus on meaningful acquisitions.

How AI is Reshaping Your Shopping Journey

A major change is how we’re finding brands, with AI-powered search now topping the charts for discovery.

  • 43% of shoppers use AI search to discover brands.
  • E-commerce platforms account for 30% of brand discovery.
  • Social media platforms are used by 27% of shoppers.

This means brands need to be everywhere, as our buying journey increasingly jumps between AI search, social media, and commerce sites.

Beyond Discounts: Trust and Multi-Screen Habits

While a good deal is always nice, the survey points out that trust and brand loyalty are actually more important than discounts for festive purchases.

  • Trust and brand loyalty influence 38% of shoppers.
  • Deals and discounts impact 34% of purchases.
  • Celebrity endorsements sway 29% of consumers.

Our digital lives are pretty busy too, with most of us constantly switching between apps and devices.

  • 86% of shoppers switch between different digital activities within an hour.
  • 61% use a second device while watching television, often browsing social or news apps.

Ultimately, this festive season signals a more considered approach to spending, driven by digital discovery and established brand relationships.