India retail leasing rises 20% in H1 2026

According to a CBRE report, India's retail leasing activity rose 20% year-on-year to approximately 3.9 million square feet in the first half of 2026, despite inflationary pressures and geopolitical headwinds. The growth was driven by continued retailer expansion, with Fashion & Apparel leading at 40% of total space take-up, followed by Food & Beverage at 14% and Entertainment at 9%. Domestic retailers accounted for over 70% of leasing activity, while direct-to-consumer brands contributed around 28%. New retail supply of about 0.9 million square feet became operational, all in Delhi-NCR. The report expects organised retail real estate to continue growing, supported by infrastructure projects and expansion into Tier-II markets.