The FMCG sector grew 16.5% in terms of value in the third quarter of 2018 because of increase in private consumption, expansion in rural income and moderate inflation levels of about 4%.For the last quarter of 2018, the research firm expects the growth in the FMCG sector to drop to as much as 12-13% due to macro-economic factors such as below average rainfall, ban on plastics in some states, and floods in Kerala which is a consumption-oriented state. However, this would not affect the growth estimate for the FMCG industry for calendar year 2018 which is approximately 13%, slightly lower than 14.1% in calendar year 2017. The rural markets grew faster at 20% during the quarter than urban India, which grew at 14.5%.

(Economic Times)