{"id":"in-kerala","country":"in","kind":"state","name":{"en":"Kerala","local":"കേരളം"},"languages":["ml","en"],"currency":"INR","symbol":"₹","fxPerUsd":94,"cities":{"T1":"Kochi","T2":"Thrissur","T3":"Thodupuzha"},"basket":{"teaCup":13,"simpleMeal":100,"haircutMen":150,"milkLitre":50,"breadLoaf":45,"unskilledDayWage":900,"minWageMonthly":14078,"shopRentSqftMonth":{"T1":110,"T2":50,"T3":25},"electricityCommercialKwh":8.5,"lpgCommercialCylinder":2930,"petrolLitre":115.1},"tax":{"salesTax":"GST 5/18% (national)","smallBizThreshold":"₹40 lakh goods / ₹20 lakh services (national)","localLevies":"Professional tax half-yearly to the local body (max ~₹2,500/yr, revised Oct 2024); local-body licence (IFTE&OS) fee"},"licences":[{"name":"Shop & Commercial Establishment registration (Kerala S&CE Act 1960), fee revised Feb 2026 (G.O(P) 12/2026/LBR)","fee":"₹70 (no workers), ₹135 (≤5), ₹265 (6–10), ₹525 (11–20)","authority":"Labour Department","source":"https://teamleaseregtech.com/updates/article/52561/kerala-shops-and-commercial-establishments-amendment-rules-2025/"},{"name":"Local-body 'Enterprises Licence' (IFTE&OS) via K-SMART","fee":"By trade/area; statutory 5 working days (municipality) / 7 (panchayat); needed before S&CE registration","authority":"Municipality / Corporation / Panchayat","source":"https://calcguru.in/?p=5364"}],"festivals":[{"name":"Sabarimala Mandalam–Makaravilakku season","dates2026_27":"about 17 Nov 2026 – 14 Jan 2027","effect":"Lakhs of pilgrims; vegetarian food, highway eateries, Pathanamthitta/Kottayam trade up; many devotees avoid meat and alcohol"},{"name":"Christmas / New Year","dates2026_27":"25 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027","effect":"Plum cakes, bakeries 2–4×; Kochi carnival (Fort Kochi) crowds"},{"name":"Ramzan / Eid al-Fitr","dates2026_27":"about 8 Feb – 10 Mar 2027","effect":"Iftar snacks and Malabar evening food streets surge; daytime eateries in Malabar shut"},{"name":"Easter","dates2026_27":"28 Mar 2027","effect":"Meat, fish, appam demand in central Kerala after Lent (meat demand dips during Lent)"},{"name":"Vishu","dates2026_27":"about 14–15 Apr 2027","effect":"Vishu kani items, crackers, clothes; sadya; 1-day holiday"},{"name":"Thrissur Pooram","dates2026_27":"about late Apr / early May 2027","effect":"Thrissur crowds of lakhs; street food and lodging peak 2 days"},{"name":"Onam","dates2026_27":"Thiruvonam about mid-Sep 2027 (Atham ten days earlier)","effect":"Biggest shopping season: clothes, gold, vegetables, sadya; Onam bonus paid; shops shut 2–4 days around Thiruvonam"}],"seasons":[{"months":"Jun–Sep","what":"South-west monsoon, among India's heaviest; open-air trade collapses on rain days; floods/landslides (2018, Wayanad 2024)"},{"months":"Oct–Nov","what":"North-east monsoon showers, mostly south Kerala"},{"months":"Mar–May","what":"Humid heat (33–37°C, high humidity); drought in some years drove milk prices up in 2026"},{"months":"Oct–Mar","what":"Tourist season (houseboats, Munnar, Fort Kochi), Gulf NRIs visit for Christmas and weddings"}],"payments":{"digitalShare":"about 55–75% UPI by count in towns (Est.); Kerala is highly banked","credit":"chit funds (KSFE) and gold loans are everyday small-business finance; udhaar in tea shops and provision stores"},"notes":"Kerala has India's highest wages for casual labour (around ₹900+/day) but a modest shop minimum wage (₹13–15k/month), a large Gulf-remittance economy, and a heavy share of migrant 'guest workers' from eastern India doing shop and kitchen labour. Consumers are educated, urban-rural blended (the state is close to one continuous town) and spend heavily at Onam and Christmas. The 2026 West Asia war is the place-specific risk: remittances could drop ~20% if it persists. Milma raised milk ₹4/L in June 2026, petrol is about ₹115, the monsoon is fierce, and hartals (general strikes) can shut every shop for a day.","factors":[{"id":"P01","cat":"Wages","name":"Minimum wage, shops (general), Thrissur Grade A — T2","value":"₹14,078/month (from 1 Feb 2026; VDA revised monthly by CPI)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.zimyo.com/guides/minimum-wages/kerala/","estimate":false},{"id":"P02","cat":"Wages","name":"Minimum wage range across districts and grades","value":"₹13,238 (Thrissur Grade E) – ₹16,160 (Mundakayam Special) per month","role":"HV","source":"https://www.zimyo.com/guides/minimum-wages/kerala/","estimate":false},{"id":"P03","cat":"Wages","name":"VDA revision cadence","value":"Monthly CPI-linked VDA notifications (Feb, Mar, May 2026 under DES/1129/2025-P3(1))","role":"HV","source":"https://ascent-hr.com/notification/kerala-revision-of-minimum-wages-240426/","estimate":false},{"id":"P04","cat":"Wages","name":"Casual unskilled day wage","value":"₹900/day (highest in India; construction ₹1,000+)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: RBI state wage handbook consistently ranks Kerala top for rural casual wages; 2026 figure not retrieved","estimate":true},{"id":"P05","cat":"Wages","name":"Migrant 'guest worker' helpers","value":"₹15k–20k/month + shared lodging; large share of eatery/shop helpers from Bengal, Assam, Odisha","role":"PD","source":"Est.: reasoned from day wages and common hiring practice","estimate":true},{"id":"P06","cat":"Rent","name":"Shop rent T1 Kochi","value":"₹110/sq ft/month (MG Road/Edappally higher)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: no Kochi rent report found; set below Chennai","estimate":true},{"id":"P07","cat":"Rent","name":"Shop rent T2 Thrissur","value":"₹50/sq ft/month","role":"HV","source":"Est.: national T2 band","estimate":true},{"id":"P08","cat":"Rent","name":"Shop rent T3 Thodupuzha","value":"₹25/sq ft/month","role":"HV","source":"Est.: national T3 band, upper half (continuous urban fringe)","estimate":true},{"id":"P09","cat":"Energy","name":"Commercial electricity (LT VII-A), effective","value":"≈₹8.5/kWh incl. fuel surcharge","role":"HV","source":"Est.: KSERC Dec 2024 order set tariffs to 2025-26 and rejected a hike for 2026-27 (https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2024/12/06/electricity-tariff-hike-in-kerala-impact-on-consumers.amp.html); commercial slabs ~₹7–9.5","estimate":true},{"id":"P10","cat":"Energy","name":"Commercial LPG 19 kg, Kochi","value":"≈₹2,930","role":"HV","source":"Est.: between Bengaluru ₹2,898 and Chennai ₹2,983 on 1 Oct 2026 (https://www.goodreturns.in/news/lpg-gas-cylinder-prices-hiked-october-1-2026-19-kg-commercial-lpg-prices-up-rs-62-71-50-city-wise-1538497.html)","estimate":true},{"id":"P11","cat":"Energy","name":"Petrol, Kerala","value":"₹115.09/L state average (3rd highest; Kozhikode ₹113.79) Oct 2026","role":"HV","source":"https://www.gulte.com/shorts/436781/ap-telangana-tops-with-highest-petrol-prices/amp","estimate":false},{"id":"P12","cat":"Licences","name":"S&CE registration fee (Feb 2026)","value":"₹70 / ₹135 / ₹265 / ₹525 for 0 / ≤5 / 6–10 / 11–20 workers; new and renewal","role":"PD","source":"https://teamleaseregtech.com/updates/article/52561/kerala-shops-and-commercial-establishments-amendment-rules-2025/","estimate":false},{"id":"P13","cat":"Licences","name":"Local-body Enterprises Licence (K-SMART)","value":"Must come first; 5 working days (municipal) / 7 (panchayat); renewal same day","role":"PD","source":"https://calcguru.in/?p=5364","estimate":false},{"id":"P14","cat":"Tax","name":"Professional tax","value":"Half-yearly to local body; revised 1 Oct 2024 (GO 1149/2024/LSGD); cap ~₹2,500/yr","role":"HV","source":"https://hrone.cloud/blog/professional-tax-slab-rates-2026-27/","estimate":false},{"id":"P15","cat":"Tax","name":"GST and FSSAI","value":"National rules unchanged","role":"HV","source":"https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/advisories/2026/03/69c6a23234827order_27032026.pdf","estimate":false},{"id":"P16","cat":"Rules","name":"Liquor retail","value":"State-run Bevco/Consumerfed outlets only; dry day on 1st of month (Est.); toddy shops licensed","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Kerala abkari policy","estimate":true},{"id":"P17","cat":"Rules","name":"Plastic / waste rules","value":"Single-use plastic ban (2020) and strict local-body waste-segregation fines (Malinya Muktham drive)","role":"RE","source":"Est.: state ban 1 Jan 2020","estimate":true},{"id":"P18","cat":"Festivals","name":"Onam","value":"Thiruvonam mid-Sep 2027; clothes/gold/vegetables 2–4× for 10 days; Onam bonus paid to staff (≈8.33%+)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: annual pattern; bonus custom","estimate":true},{"id":"P19","cat":"Festivals","name":"Christmas","value":"Plum cakes and bakeries 2–4× (largest Christian share in South India, ~18%)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: national bakery matrix","estimate":true},{"id":"P20","cat":"Festivals","name":"Sabarimala season","value":"Mid-Nov to mid-Jan; vegetarian demand, highway food stalls up; meat/alcohol demand dips among devotees","role":"HV","source":"Est.: annual pilgrimage","estimate":true},{"id":"P21","cat":"Festivals","name":"Ramzan in Malabar","value":"Eid about 10 Mar 2027; daytime eateries quiet, iftar evenings 2–3×","role":"HV","source":"https://www.calendarlabs.com/bank-holidays-in-tamil-nadu-2027/","estimate":false},{"id":"P22","cat":"Festivals","name":"Vishu, Easter, Thrissur Pooram","value":"Vishu ~14–15 Apr; Easter 28 Mar 2027; Pooram ~late Apr–May","role":"HV","source":"Est.: calendar","estimate":true},{"id":"P23","cat":"Climate","name":"South-west monsoon","value":"Jun–Sep; street/open-air demand ×0.4–0.7 on heavy-rain days; ~40–60 such days","role":"HV","source":"Est.: national monsoon matrix, scaled for Kerala's intensity","estimate":true},{"id":"P24","cat":"Climate","name":"Floods / landslides","value":"Major flood or landslide events (2018, 2019, Wayanad 2024); shops shut days to weeks locally","role":"RE","source":"Est.: precedent ~1 serious event every 2–3 years","estimate":true},{"id":"P25","cat":"Prices","name":"Packet milk (Milma)","value":"≈₹50/L toned after ₹4 hike from 1 Jun 2026","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Milma toned ₹46 in Apr 2025 (https://www.magzter.com/hi/stories/newspaper/The-New-Indian-Express-Tiruchy/AAVIN-IS-THE-CHEAPEST-COOPERATIVE-MILK-BRAND-IN-COUNTRY-SAYS-RAJA-KANNAPPAN) + ₹4 June 2026 hike reported only by mirror sites (https://www.onmanorama.com/topic/general-topics/26/milk.html?page=4)","estimate":true},{"id":"P26","cat":"Prices","name":"Tea (chaya), T2","value":"₹12–15; the ₹10 chaya-and-pazhampori era fading; shops serving 'more froth, less filling'","role":"HV","source":"https://www.keralakaumudi.com/en/news/more-froth-less-filling-is-golden-era-of-₹10-chaya--pazhampori-fading-1741255","estimate":false},{"id":"P27","cat":"Prices","name":"Simple meal (Kerala meals), T2","value":"₹100 (fish curry extra ₹40–80)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: hotel meals ₹80–120","estimate":true},{"id":"P28","cat":"Prices","name":"Men's haircut, T2","value":"₹150","role":"HV","source":"Est.: higher labour costs than neighbours","estimate":true},{"id":"P29","cat":"Market","name":"Gulf remittances","value":"Largest remittance-receiving state; KMS team projects ~20% drop if the 2026 West Asia war persists; bank inflows so far held up (rupee fell 5.4% Jan–Mar)","role":"RE","source":"https://www.flame.edu.in/in-the-media/kerala-likely-to-see-20-drop-in-remittances-as-west-asia-war-drags-on","estimate":false},{"id":"P30","cat":"Market","name":"Remittance-shock cascade","value":"A 10–15% fall could cut retail and services consumption","role":"RE","source":"https://www.theweek.in/news/defence/2026/04/22/opinion-when-distant-wars-hit-home-kerala-on-the-frontline-of-a-west-asia-crisis.amp.html","estimate":false},{"id":"P31","cat":"Market","name":"Per-capita income","value":"₹3,08,338 NSDP per capita FY25 (5th in South); PPP ≈$18,963 (2025-26)","role":"HV","source":"https://thesouthfirst.com/news/southern-states-lead-indias-per-capita-income-rankings-rbi-data-shows/","estimate":false},{"id":"P32","cat":"Market","name":"Urbanisation","value":"47.7% urban (Census 2011); settlement is a rural–urban continuum","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Census 2011 (old) https://censusindia.gov.in/","estimate":true},{"id":"P33","cat":"Market","name":"Ageing population","value":"Highest share of elderly in India; chemists/clinics do well, youth-oriented formats weaker","role":"HV","source":"Est.: demographic profile","estimate":true},{"id":"P34","cat":"Payments","name":"Digital share","value":"Towns ~55–75% UPI by count","role":"HV","source":"Est.: national tiering; high banking penetration","estimate":true},{"id":"P35","cat":"Finance","name":"Chitty (KSFE) and gold loans","value":"Widely used for working capital; gold-loan NBFCs (Muthoot, Manappuram) headquartered here","role":"PD","source":"Est.: regional finance practice; RBI gold LTV 85% ≤₹2.5 lakh (shared constants)","estimate":true},{"id":"P36","cat":"Schemes","name":"Kudumbashree","value":"Women's SHG network (~45 lakh members) running canteens, micro-enterprises; group loans","role":"PD","source":"Est.: state mission","estimate":true},{"id":"P37","cat":"Language","name":"Language of trade","value":"Malayalam; English widely read; Hindi/Bengali with migrant staff","role":"HV","source":"Est.","estimate":true},{"id":"P38","cat":"Risk","name":"Hartal (general strike)","value":"Political hartals shut shops statewide or district-wide; ~2–5 days/yr (court curbs reduced frequency)","role":"RE","source":"Est.: historical pattern","estimate":true},{"id":"P39","cat":"Risk","name":"Nipah / disease outbreak containment zones","value":"Kozhikode/Malappuram containment zones close markets for 1–3 weeks (2018, 2023, 2024 precedents)","role":"RE","source":"Est.: precedent, ~1 local event every 1–2 years","estimate":true},{"id":"P40","cat":"Risk","name":"Milk input shock","value":"Drought + neighbouring-state procurement costs drove the Jun 2026 Milma hike; repeatable","role":"RE","source":"Est.: follows from P25","estimate":true},{"id":"P41","cat":"Market","name":"FX used for USD conversion","value":"₹94 per USD (Est.)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: https://thewire.in/economy/in-wake-of-depreciating-rupee-foreign-remittances-to-kerala-remain-unaffected-despite-west-asia-crisis","estimate":true}]}