The
Strategy Briefings

The New Era of Thrift: Changing Spending Habits in the Face of Recession

Euromonitor International's The New Era of Thrift: Changing Spending Habits in the Face of Recession Strategy Briefings is a series of reports that alert you to global trends predicted to influence consumer markets. They offer insight to changing market conditions and the opportunities and challenges companies need to consider to maintain a competitive advantage

Chapters: 9  |  Tables: 42  |  Publication date: Aug 2009
Cost: 
GBP1625.00

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  • Get insight into trends in market performance
  • Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change
  • Identify market and brand leaders and understand the competitive environment

Regional coverage

Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; Latin America; Asia-Pacific; Oceania; Africa and the Middle East

Table of contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

KEY DRIVERS

Summary 1 Factors Affecting Thrifty Behaviour

CONSUMER MARKET TRENDS

RETAILING TRENDS

Outlook

Summary 2 Opportunities and Challenges in 2009 and Beyond

INTRODUCTION

THE END OF CONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION

DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THRIFT

A return to post-war austerity

ECONOMIC DRIVERS

STATE OF THE ECONOMY

Table 1 Real GDP Growth in Selected Markets 2003-2008

THE IMPACT OF UNEMPLOYMENT

Table 2 Unemployment Rates in Selected Markets 2003-2008

SPENDING VERSUS SAVING

Savings ratio low in developed markets

Asian consumers better positioned

Women Spend, Men Save

Table 3 Savings Ratios in Selected Markets 2003-2008

RISING FOOD PRICES

Food price hikes cause concern in West

Rice and grain prices reached record highs in 2008

Prices stabilise in 2009

Table 4 Index of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Prices in Selected Markets 2003-2008

ENVIRONMENTAL DRIVERS

GREEN CONSUMERISM

Renewed focus on reducing waste

Decline in willingness to pay extra for green products

Chart 1 Consumers Agreeing that “The Extra Cost of Environmentally Friendly Products Is Not Worth It To Me” 2008-2009

GREENER TRANSPORT

Decline in new car sales

Table 5 Number of New Passenger Car Registrations in Selected Markets 2003-2008

Eco-friendly alternatives

Table 6 Alternative Transport For Consumers Whose Transportation Habits Changed Over 2008-2009

LOCALLY-PRODUCED FOOD

Supporting local farmers

Consumption of local food highest in Russia, but soaring in US

Chart 2 Consumption of Locally Grown Food in Selected Markets 2009

SELF-GROWN FOOD

Vegetable plots in demand

India leads the way

Chart 3 Consumption of Self-Grown Food in Selected Markets 2009

SWAPPING, MENDING, BUYING SECOND-HAND

Re-using old clothes

Chart 4 Consumers Agreeing that “I Try To Buy Things “Used” Or Pre-Owned, Rather Than Brand New” 2008-2009, Selected Markets

Recycling in the name of fashion

Mend and make do

Chart 5 Consumers Agreeing That “I Prefer to Repair Something When It Is Broken Rather Than Replace It” 2008-2009 Selected Markets

CONSUMER DRIVERS

FRUGALISTAS

Women taking control

Backlash against fast fashion

COCOONING

The cheaper option

Home as an entertainment hub

Chart 6 Global Sales of Selected Consumer Electronics 2003/2008

EATING AND DRINKING HABITS

Back to Basics: A revival in World War II skills

Table 7 Global Consumer Foodservice Versus Retail Packaged Food Sales 2003-2008

Changing alcohol consumption patterns

Table 8 Global Alcoholic Drinks: Off-Trade Versus On-Trade Sales 2003/2008

BARGAIN HUNTING

Culture of value well-entrenched

Rise of Internet shopping

THE LIPSTICK EFFECT

Women reluctant to give up small luxuries

As long as the price is right

VOUCHERISTAS

From snipping to downloading

US consumers swayed by coupons

Internet coupons take off

Mobile coupons offer convenience and ecological benefits

DO IT YOURSELF

Table 9 Sales Through Home and Garden Specialist Retailers in Selected Markets 2003/2008

THE IMPACT OF THE INTERNET

Growing number of “netizens”

Table 10 Number of Internet Users in Selected Markets 2003/2008

PRICE COMPARISON AND MONEY-SAVING WEBSITES

Price comparison sites

Summary 3 International Price Comparison Websites 2008

Travel search engines

Money-saving websites

IMPACT ON CONSUMER MARKETS

PACKAGED FOOD

Benefiting from the stay-at-home trend

Back to basics

Chart 7 Global Sales of Selected Basic Foods 2003/2008

Indulgence Foods

Chart 8 Global Sales of Selected Indulgence Foods 2003/2008

DIY Lunches

Chart 9 Global Sales of Selected Packed Lunch Items 2003/2008

COSMETICS AND TOILETRIES

From premium to masstige

The “lipstick effect” in action

Chart 10 Global Sales of “Feel Good” Cosmetics and Toiletries 2003/2008

CONSUMER FOODSERVICE

Restaurants offer promotions to lure back diners

Fast food operators focus on value offerings

Chart 11 Global Sales of Consumer Foodservice 2003/2008

TOURISM

Slowdown in Arrivals

Table 11 Global Tourism Arrivals 2003-2008

International versus domestic tourism

Table 12 Global Tourism Departures – International Versus Domestic 2003-2008

Currency fluctuations

Table 13 Selected Exchange Rates Against The US$ 2003-2008

Low-cost versus scheduled airlines

Table 14 LCC Revenues as a % total LCC/Scheduled Airlines Revenues in Selected Markets 2003-2008

Downgrading

Camping regains popularity

Table 15 Revenues from Campsites in Selected Markets 2003/2008

IMPACT ON RETAILING

CHANGING SHOPPING HABITS

THE RISE OF HARD DISCOUNTERS

Table 16 Global Sales through Hard Discounters 2003-2008

SUPERMARKETS’ REPONSES TO RECESSION

Promotional tactics to attract frugalistas

Increasing emphasis on private labels

Table 17 Leading Markets for Private Label by Value 2002/2007

THE DOLLAR STORE BOOM

FASHION RETAILING TRENDS

Fast fashion appeals to bargain hunters

Discount designer wear

THE GROWTH OF INTERNET RETAILING

Table 18 Internet Shopping as a % Total Retail Sales by Selected Market 2003/2008

COUNTRY TRENDS

AUSTRALIA

Economic background

Table 19 Australia: Economic Indicators 2008-2010

Recession behaviour

Table 20 Australia: Per Capita Consumer Expenditure 2008-2010

CHINA

Economic background

Table 21 China: Economic Indicators 2008-2010

Recession behaviour

Table 22 China: Per Capita Consumer Expenditure 2008-2010

FRANCE

Economic background

Table 23 France: Economic Indicators 2008-2010

Recession behaviour

Table 24 France: Per Capita Consumer Expenditure 2008-2010

GERMANY

Economic background

Table 25 Germany: Economic Indicators 2008-2010

Recession behaviour

Table 26 Germany: Per Capita Consumer Expenditure 2008-2010

ITALY

Economic background

Table 27 Italy: Economic Indicators 2008-2010

Recession behaviour

Table 28 Italy: Per Capita Consumer Expenditure 2008-2010

JAPAN

Economic background

Table 29 Japan: Economic Indicators 2008-2010

Recession behaviour

Table 30 Japan: Per Capita Consumer Expenditure 2008-2010

UK

Economic background

Table 31 UK: Economic Indicators 2008-2010

Recession behaviour

Table 32 UK: Per Capita Consumer Expenditure 2008-2010

US

Economic background

Table 33 US: Economic Indicators 2008-2010

Recession behaviour

Table 34 US: Per Capita Consumer Expenditure 2008-2010

FUTURE OUTLOOK

Economic recovery on the horizon?

Table 35 Forecast GDP Growth in Selected Markets 2008-2013

Unemployment to peak in 2010

Table 36 Forecast Unemployment Rates by Country 2008-2013

Consumer confidence to remain weak

Spending will slow in short term

Table 37 Savings Ratios in Selected Markets 2008-2013

Frugal habits to remain entrenched

The need to reduce waste

The quest for value

Private label growth

Cocooning is here to stay

Eating out versus home cooking

Table 38 Forecast Global Sales of Packaged Food Versus Consumer Foodservice 2008-2013

Travel industry will be slow to pick up

Table 39 Forecast Global Tourism Departures – International Versus Domestic 2008-2013

Implications for marketers

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