Kirana to currency: India's small towns chase dollars
India's small towns are increasingly demanding dollars, marking a significant shift in the country's consumption story. Tier-2 and tier-3 cities now account for 53% of India's foreign exchange demand, surpassing the metros, according to Thomas Cook India’s Forex Report 2026. The shift suggests that India's consumption story is evolving beyond metropolitan cities and moving into a new phase where rising prosperity in smaller towns is expressed through overseas travel, international education, and global lifestyle choices.
This trend reflects the maturation of the consumer market beyond India's major cities and underscores the structural shift in the country's economic landscape.
Written by urgent.news from The Economic Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
