New Delhi: GST collections grew 6.2% to Rs 1,84,597 crore in June, marking the slowest pace of expansion since last September. The numbers for transactions in May indicated weak demand as collections from domestic sources rose 4.6% to Rs 1,38,906 crore, while those from imports clocked double-digit growth of 11% and reached Rs 45,690 crore.There was double-digit growth during April and May, resulting in average monthly collections of over Rs 2 lakh crore so far this year. The latest GST data comes on the back of weak industrial production as well as muted growth in direct taxes during the first quarter of the current financial year.

“Around 6% growth in GST collections, coupled with less than 4% growth in advance tax collection during the first quarter of FY26, does indicate softening of demand and a cautious outlook. One of the reasons could be conservative spending by consumers, which may improve in the next couple of months,,” said Pratik Jain, partner at Price Waterhouse & Co.“Coming on the 8th anniversary of the introduction of GST, it is hoped that such muted growth in collection on a year-on-year basis is just an aberration,” said Karthik Mani, partner for indirect tax at BDO India.