NEW DELHI: India’s petrol sales rose for the first time in the first half of September since the country’s lockdown in late March, signalling demand may have returned to pre-COVID-19 levels.
Petrol sales between September 1 and 15 rose 2.2 per cent year-on-year and were up 7 per cent over the previous month, according to preliminary industry data.
Diesel sales continue to be in negative territory, with demand falling 6 per cent year-on-year. But the demand was 19.3 per cent higher over August 2020.
This is the first time that petrol sales in the world’s third-largest oil importer have risen since the March 25 nationwide lockdown crippled economic activity and sent demand plummeting.
Row erupts as Google drops Paytm from app store, then brings it back
High drama unfolded on Friday afternoon as search engine giant Google removed mobile payment application Paytm from its Play Store, citing breach of its gambling restrictions, before bringing it back again by evening. Paytm’s fantasy gaming application was also removed ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Saturday, and was not back till the filing of this report.
