The Indian Economy Powers Ahead in October

The First Data on Economic Activity Levels in India - Every Month
The only survey with current month, month-on-month, monthly year-on-year, and forward looking questions

Updated: September 22, 2025

Indian Sales Managers reported another month of significant economic growth in October. All growth-related indexes except employment are reflecting significant expansion across a wide variety of business sectors.

The forward-looking Business Confidence Index, reflecting the vital "animal spirits" factor in economic growth, indicates that continued significant expansion in economic activity is likely to continue throughout the fourth quarter of 2025, and on into the first quarter of 2026.

India’s Business Confidence Index Grew to an 8-month High in October Note: Data Shown as a Diffusion Index. (50 = 'No Change', above 50 = Increasing growth, below 50 = Declining growth)



There is little doubt that Indian Sales Managers collectively are feeling confident that recent growth will continue well into the future.

Market Growth in India Continued to Expand at a Strong Pace Note: Data Shown as a Diffusion Index. (50 = 'No Change', above 50 = Increasing growth, below 50 = Declining growth)



The Market Growth Index likewise illustrates a steadily rising pattern of growth over the past year deriving from most business sectors, and complements the confidence shown by Sales Managers with real results from the recent past, as opposed to optimism about the future.

Overall, the Sales Indexes suggest a year of significant growth is on the cards for 2026. The only negative theme is presented by the Prices Index, still at a somewhat worrying height. However, it remains possible that the elevated nature of price increases reflects the rapid economic expansion clearly evident from these results, and may dampen when output catches up with sales, as seems likely at the moment.





Sales Managers Index Components



0 0 0 India|#0A66C2|51.3, 49.4, 52.1, 49.7, 48.4, 49.7, 50.3, 52.5, 51, 50.3, 50.7, 50, 51.7, 52.5, 51, 51.1, 50.7, 51.4, 48.8, 51.4, 53.3, 52.7, 53.4, 54.3, 53.6, 53.2, 52.3, 53.5, 53.6, 53.9, 53.2, 54.3, 52.7, 53.4, 55.3, 54.5, 52.6, 56, 55.3, 54, 55, 54.5, 53.9, 53.2, 53.8, 53.4, 53.9, 53.5, 54.2, 55.3, 53.9, 52.8, 53.5, 53.1, 53.5, 53.8, 53.1, 54.5 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Business Confidence

54.5
October 2025
Business Confidence grew at a strong pace in October. The Business Confidence Index measures the level of optimism/pessimism among sales managers for future conditions.
Find out more about SMI Diffusion Indexes
0 0 0 India|#0A66C2|50.6, 51.9, 50, 50, 49.3, 48.1, 47.3, 49.3, 50.3, 50.3, 51, 50.3, 50.3, 49.1, 50, 50.7, 50.4, 50.4, 47.8, 49.3, 50.7, 50, 50.3, 50.4, 50, 51.8, 51.3, 52.4, 52.6, 53.6, 52.8, 52.1, 52.1, 52.4, 52.6, 51.9, 51.3, 53.5, 53.9, 53.4, 53.9, 53.8, 53.9, 53.9, 52.4, 52.9, 53.5, 53.2, 53.9, 54.3, 53.5, 53.1, 54.6, 54.2, 54.6, 54.5, 53.8, 54.2 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Market Growth

54.2
October 2025
The Market Growth Index continued at a near 5-year high. The Market Growth Index monitors the underlying growth of the market segments into which the panel members sell.
Find out more about SMI Diffusion Indexes
0 0 0 India|#0A66C2|51, 50.6, 50.7, 50.3, 49.7, 49.4, 48.5, 48.6, 49.7, 51.6, 52.7, 50.6, 49.7, 50, 50.7, 51.8, 51.4, 50, 47.4, 50.3, 52, 51.7, 51.7, 50.7, 48.7, 50, 51, 52.8, 53, 53.3, 52.8, 52.5, 51.2, 52.1, 53, 50.6, 50.3, 53.2, 54.2, 54.4, 54.6, 54.1, 54.2, 54.8, 53.8, 54.4, 54.3, 53.5, 54.9, 55, 54.3, 51.4, 53.9, 52.4, 53.5, 53.1, 52.4, 53.5 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Sales Growth

53.5
October 2025
Sales Growth increased again but at a faster rate in October. The Sales Growth Index defines the speed and direction of overall sales of goods and services (current month from previous month).
Find out more about SMI Diffusion Indexes
0 0 0 India|#0A66C2|54.9, 50.3, 53.1, 52.7, 53.9, 54.8, 51.2, 53.2, 53.8, 55.7, 56.8, 55.2, 57.1, 54.3, 56.1, 55, 55.3, 57.4, 54.5, 56.1, 54.3, 54, 51.4, 51.8, 53, 53.2, 54, 55.2, 52.9, 51.6, 50.4, 52.8, 51.5, 54.1, 50.7, 53.5, 53.6, 53.5, 53.9, 53.4, 53.2, 54.1, 52, 52.9, 53.1, 53.4, 52.5, 53.5, 51.8, 52.5, 53.5, 54.5, 56.3, 54.5, 53.9, 55.6, 54.2, 54.2 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Prices Charged

54.2
October 2025
The Price Charged Index value remained stable month-on-month. The Prices Charged Index measures the speed and direction of changes in the current price of goods and services taking into account any discounts offered.
Find out more about SMI Diffusion Indexes
0 0 0 India|#0A66C2|42.2, 44.9, 47.9, 42.6, 43.1, 40.1, 40.5, 42.6, 45.9, 48.1, 47.3, 48.7, 49, 48.1, 45.3, 45.4, 46.8, 41.8, 39.7, 45.6, 45, 49, 48.3, 48.6, 46.1, 47.2, 49, 49, 50.3, 53.3, 51.1, 52.5, 52.4, 53.1, 53, 52.3, 50.7, 53.2, 52.8, 53, 53.6, 53.1, 52.6, 52.9, 52.4, 52.4, 52.5, 51.8, 52.1, 52.8, 52.1, 50, 51.8, 50.3, 51.1, 50, 50.3, 50.7 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Staffing Levels

50.7
October 2025
The Staffing Levels Index registered low levels of growth in October. The Staffing Levels Index monitors the level of growth or decline in employment against the same period a year earlier.
Find out more about SMI Diffusion Indexes




About the Sales Managers Indexes

The Sales Managers' Indexes provide the earliest monthly data on the speed and direction of economic activity in key growth areas of the world.

The SMI’s (Sales Managers’ Indexes) are compiled and analysed by World Economics and are based on survey data collected from a panel of companies stratifying all Industry Classification Board (ICB) sectors which are weighted to reflect their contribution to national Gross Domestic Product.

Key advantages of the SMI's:

  • The SMI's provide the first indication each month of the speed and direction of economic growth.
  • The SMI's provide the most complete indication of growth, covering all private sector activity.
  • The SMI's are based on a key occupational group - sales executives - uniquely able to sense accurate changes in business activity levels.
  • The SMI survey base - salespeople - are used by virtually all businesses, including in frontier markets, unlike other occupational groups.
  • The SMI's focus on the key countries contributing to over 60% of global growth in recent years.






About the Data

SMI data for India is published as diffusion indexes to gauge the speed and direction of economic activity.

Monthly data since 2014 is downloadable for all-sectors in a consistent unadjusted format for 6 key indexes: