In November 2008 the IMF released an update to its October 2008 World Economic Outlook in which it highlighted the deteriorating economic environment and downgraded global real GDP growth forecasts for 2008-2009. Most developed countries are now expected to face a deeper recession than had been anticipated, owing to the global financial crisis of September -October 2008, while growth in developing regions is set to slow more sharply than earlier expected...

Attitudes towards private label products are changing as consumers find themselves strapped for cash in the midst of an economic slowdown. Until recently the concept of private label was associated with lower income groups who could not afford to pay for brand name products. According to Euromonitor International's new Strategy Briefings report “Private Label: Potential in a Weakening Economy”, with the global market for private label fast-moving consumer goods valued at almost US$268.4 billion in 2007, private label is more widely accepted by consumers of all types and incomes...

Online advocacy is fast becoming a very powerful force in the consumer market in Asia. Internet users are quickly going beyond e-mailing, chatting and surfing, as they are using the web to equip themselves with better product knowledge and for making more informed and wiser purchasing decisions...