Which Countries Have the Highest-Spending Middle Class Households?

To consumer goods businesses, middle class households are highly important because they drive consumer spending, especially spending on discretionary items (that is, all items except food, non-alcoholic drinks and housing). Although the middle class in emerging markets is celebrated for its rapid expansion, their purchasing power remains low. In 2013, a middle class household spent on average US$6,095 in China and US$3,611 in India, compared to US$83,959 in Australia and US$72,994 in the USA.