The Andersen Library Blog

Euromonitor, the provider of the Passport Reference & Markets, has shared their top ten articles of 2010*, which provides insight into the main growth areas and concerns in the current business environment.

* shared with permission from the publisher

1. Top 10 Consumer Trends for 2010
   The 2010 consumer is a seasoned thrift practitioner who is now leaning towards a more positive post-recessionary optimism. Living through 2009 has left many craving for a happy ending including visible environmental improvements in the real world. Technology is the luxury many no longer do without, even if traditional high-end luxury feels like it’s in rehab. Consumer homes are temples of technology-led entertainment while cyberspace continues to fascinate more and older consumers, flattening world culture while connecting people in ways more local. Meanwhile, the recession has pushed consumers to take a long hard at their own ‘personal brands’ in an uncertain world of shaky currencies and jobs. These concerns extend to health and wellness as consumers realize cozy retirements are no longer a guaranteed part of their future.
2. Emerging Focus: Spending power in emerging market economies grows rapidly
   Consumer markets in emerging market economies are growing rapidly owing to strong economic growth. Nonetheless, diversity amongst their spending patterns exists as these economies are at different stages of growth. Although consumer spending in most of these economies is dominated by essential goods and services, there will be a gradual shift in spending patterns by 2020 when consumers will have more room for discretionary spending.
3. Emerging focus: Rising middle class in emerging markets
   A new middle class is developing in emerging market economies as significant proportions of the population rise up from poverty in line with rapid economic growth. The expansion of this middle class not only provides competition for labor and resources, but also enormous potential for global consumer markets. As a result, there will be a gradual shift in the dominance of global consumer markets from advanced economies to emerging market economies.
4. What’s new with the emerging market consumer?
   Welcome to the latest edition of the Euromonitor International consumer comment bulletin tracking new consumer trends in emerging markets. Understanding the fast-moving trends shaping consumer attitudes and behavior in these difficult-to-research markets is key to successfully capturing the hearts of these prized consumers. This bulletin spotlights consumer trends in BRIC countries and other emerging nations every two months.
5. Web 2.0 and consumers
   This monthly bulletin on all things Web 2.0 listens in to consumption as consumers themselves see and tell it online when “2-ing.” News and trends are covered under the following topics: Internet shopping & “sellsumers,” citizen advertising and crowdsourcing (brands working with consumers to promote themselves, co-create and relate,) frugalistas & consumer vigilantes, micro-blogging, tech-savvy generations Y & Z, social networking, mobile onliners and the blogosphere.
6. Q&A: Consumption trendsetters
   The way people buy and what they buy has been gradually shifting from choosing from what’s on offer in the shops to consumers actively shaping what they want to see on offer online and offline. Euromonitor International has been observing the new consumer trends and those at their helm including sellsummers and internet shoppers, frugalistas, consumer vigilantes, micro-bloggers and other social networkers, early adopters and viral marketers. All these changes pose a challenge, and they offer a huge scope for creative operators.
7. Online search habits and trends – a peek into what Asia-Pacific consumers are passionate about at the moment
   Consumers in the region love searching for product information and reviews before making purchases, with many of them hoping to land a bargain along the way. Some are even making it a hobby, from updating themselves with new technology to discovering medical facts and finding strangers to shop with them online for ‘grouponing’ purposes. Overall, consumers’ search habits offer insights into the latest trends and habits. Let’s now gain a better understanding of Asia-Pacific consumers by looking at what they are searching for and how they are searching for them.
8. Special Report: Top 10 biggest consumer markets
   In 2009, eight of the ten largest consumer markets were advanced economies in North America, Western Europe and Japan. Brazil and China were the only emerging economies among the ten, yet their growing consumer demands despite the global recession, demonstrates the enormous potential for consumer expenditure. More emerging markets will enter the top 10 biggest consumer markets by 2020 and beyond.
9. Recession: Shifting consumer responses
   Welcome to the latest edition of Euromonitor International’s global consumer tracker designed to help you keep in touch with consumer responses to the recession all over the world and more crucially to map signs of recovery via shifting consumer purchasing behaviors and attitudes in 50 developed and developing countries as they emerge. We explore the latest news within consumer themes including thrift, the allure of fakes and treats that consumers can’t do without. This tracker includes stories on recession-fueled demand for evening courses in Ireland, how counterfeit products and illegal imports are thriving in Greece and on Singaporean consumers still spending on arts and culture.
10. Monthly economic review of emerging market economies
    The economic growth in emerging market economies slowed in Q3 2010 compared to the previous quarter but continue to attract strong capital inflows as a result of large interest rate differentials with G7 economies. This has resulted in stronger currencies and rising inflation in these countries impairing export competitiveness and increasing the risk of asset bubbles.

UW-Whitewater affiliates can access more information on these topics and much more through Passport Reference & Markets, an excellent source of international business information.

Thanks to Sean Griffin from Euromonitor for sharing these insights!