Soaring gold prices take glitter off Dhanteras; jewellery sales fall 16%

Bihar’s Dhanteras jewellery sales dropped to Rs 585 crore from Rs 700 crore last year, with a significant shift towards 18-karat gold and lightweight designs. Despite a nearly 16% overall business contraction, some major jewellers reported increased sales due to higher gold prices and a focus on value-for-money options.