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Saturday, February 21, 2026
TopicConsumption slowdown

Topic: Consumption slowdown

MGNREGS hits record with 3.1 crore families seeking work in May. It’s a cry for help from Bharat

From a record-breaking number of households demanding work under the MGNREGS to the stark decline in consumption and FMCG sales — all signs point to a rural livelihood crisis.

Corporate India has never had it so good, but under-consumption continues to undermine economy

It’s hard not to link this problem with growth of income inequality in recent times. Far too many are earning far too little to support consumption growth of the kind economy needs.

Five charts that show how bad things are for Indian consumers

With consumption making up around 60% of India’s economy, the slump is weighing on Asia’s third-largest economy, which is on track for its first contraction in more than four decades.

Maggi, fridge, clothes, mobile data, booze — nothing is selling in slowdown-hit rural UP

Kids are denied lunch and weddings are austere as rural consumption takes a beating due to economic slowdown. ThePrint travels through UP to meet people caught in the crisis.

Cardboard blinders to drown out political, economic woes & Nitish Kumar’s BJP umbrella

The best cartoons of the day, chosen by the editors at ThePrint.

India’s fiscal deficit seen jumping to 3.7% this year after stimulus to economy: Fitch

Modi govt decision to cut taxes to boost growth will lead to India missing its fiscal deficit target of 3.3% of GDP, Fitch ratings said in a report.

Yamini Aiyar on labour market challenge & Omkar Goswami on tackling poor demand

The best of the day’s opinion, chosen and curated by ThePrint’s top editors.

Cars and shampoo tell the story of India’s consumption slowdown

The pullback in spending on everything from shampoo to cars & travel has hurt growth, predicted to have slowed to the weakest pace since mid-2017.

On Camera

Youth Congress, your foolish protest helped the Modi govt climb out of the AI summit hole

In tactical terms, the shirtless protest was worse than a self-goal. Suddenly, the fiascos of the AI Summit were forgotten, and the Youth Congress’s disruption became the issue.

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

MoD, IAF agree on some exemptions to HAL for Tejas Mk1A, but no compromise on ‘must-have’ capabilities

IAF is fine with accepting the aircraft with 'must-haves', even if some other steps remain pending, which may take at least another year, it is learnt.

No country is ever fully sovereign. Cold War era taught India its real meaning

India’s fraught neighbourhood places multiple constraints on its strategic choices. It leaves no time to take a deep breath, lean back and reset.