7 months ago
Air Pollution Hits Sales at Shoppers Stop
A big store company in India called Shoppers Stop said that dirty air in the north part of the country made people spend less money.
This happened in the last three months of 2025.
The air was really bad, especially in November and December.
When the air is dirty, people don't go out as much, so they don't buy as many things.
This made the store's sales stay the same and their earnings go down.
The company's stock price also dropped a lot.
Another company, Akums Drugs, had its finance chief quit because of the bad air.
This shows that dirty air can hurt businesses.
Shoppers Stop Ltd. reported flat sales and falling earnings for the three months ended December 31, 2025, attributing the decline to elevated pollution levels in northern India.
Severe air pollution in November and December 2025, with 90% of days recording an air quality index above 300, reduced consumer mobility and discretionary spending.
The company's shares tumbled as much as 12% on Wednesday before paring losses.
Chronic air pollution is starting to impact businesses in the capital, with Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd.'s finance chief resigning due to health concerns related to poor air quality.
The impact of air pollution on sales growth highlights the vulnerability of consumption to environmental disruptions.
- Who
- Shoppers Stop Ltd., a leading department store chain in India
- What
- Air pollution in northern India impacted consumer demand and sales
- Where
- Northern India, particularly around New Delhi
- When
- During the three months ended December 31, 2025, with severe pollution in November and December
- Why
- Elevated pollution levels reduced consumer mobility and discretionary spending
Key facts
- Company
- Shoppers Stop Ltd.
- Location
- Mumbai, India
- Impacted Period
- Three months ended Dec. 31, 2025
- Sales Growth
- Flat
- Earnings
- Fell
- Stock Price Change
- Tumbled as much as 12%
- Air Quality Index
- Above 300 for 90% of days in Nov-Dec 2025
- Acceptable AQI Level
- 50 or below (per US EPA)
Quotes
Gita Gopinath
Former senior IMF official and current professor of Economics at Harvard University
“If you look at the impact of pollution on the Indian economy, it is far more consequential than any impact of any tariffs that have been put on India so far.”
livemint.com
