Consumption

China on Tuesday rolled out a series of measures to boost consumption in its counties and smaller cities to revive sluggish domestic demand, which has become a major source of its economic slowdown. The measures herald a policy shift to boost domestic demand from top cities and tap the potential of vast lower-tier markets as a new source of economic growth, an official announcement here said. The government calls for upgrading consumption channels in counties, including renovating township commercial centres, rural markets and local fairs. It includes encouraging domestic and international brands to open regional debut stores and promote the revitalisation of existing land resources to improve services, according to the guideline issued by the Ministry of Commerce. The lower-tier markets, generally referring to third-tier and smaller cities, counties, townships and rural areas, account for about 70 per cent of China's population and 60 per cent of total retail sales of consumer ...

Company cites food inflation and geopolitical disruptions as near-term headwinds but says rural reach, premiumisation and e-commerce will continue to support long-term growth.

The world's highest-consuming 10 per cent of people could be causing an environmental damage worth USD 1.7 trillion to USD 5.7 trillion a year -- 60 per cent of which live in the US and the European Union (EU), while only about two per cent are in India, a new study has estimated. About 40-45 per cent of EU's and over half of the US' population falls within the highest-consuming group, findings published in the journal Communications Sustainability show. Researchers from the universities of Oxford in the UK and Leiden in the Netherlands combined consumption-based environmental footprints with prices from the Environmental Prices Handbook 2024 to estimate the monetary cost of damage across climate change, biodiversity loss, nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, and freshwater use. It looked at six countries -- Brazil, China, Egypt, Germany, India, and the US. The team found that damage through biodiversity loss makes up 47-56 per cent of the total bill -- the biggest contributor -- ...

Slowdown in consumption will come in the way of private investment, which can now turn further cautious on taking such decisions.

Domestic consumption is sustaining the growth momentum in the economy, and predictable policy support is essential to ensure that the pace of GDP expansion continues, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Friday. Speaking at an event organised by SBI here, Sitharaman also said that a committee of bankers is looking into the issue of whether to allow exclusive distribution tie-ups for selling third-party products by banks or adopt an open architecture approach. She also urged banks to focus on the physical contact with customers as they go global and digital. The minister further said that the disinvestment process of IDBI Bank will continue going ahead. "...consumption emerging out of its domestic market itself is able to sustain our growth, which is the fastest even now in the world," she said. The finance minister said that while it is necessary for the consumption for the growth process to continue, it is also pertinent to have predictable policies. "...unless our

FMCG companies expect steady growth in Q4FY26 driven by strong domestic demand, even as geopolitical tensions weigh on international markets

By 2030, Gen Z will comprise 27 per cent of India's population and will command USD 1.3 trillion in consumption, reshaping consumer markets with a focus on experiences, sustainability and digital convenience, according to a report by Redseer Strategy Consultants. The report, titled "Gen Z: Defining Trends, Influencing Spends," analyses how this demographic, born between 1997 and 2012, is prioritising value-driven choices. "Gen Z will occupy a greater share of the population, and command USD 1.3 trillion in consumption by 2030. This generation shuns labels, valuing inclusivity, self-expression and authenticity. Through this phase of self-discovery, they prioritise aesthetics and new experiences -- all of which reflect in their behaviour as consumers," the report noted. Gen Z's emphasis on aesthetics is evident in their engagement with the beauty and personal care (BPC) sector. By 2030, this group is projected to account for nearly USD 19 billion share of India's BPC market. One in t

India's Second Advance GDP Estimates for FY26 signal strengthening private consumption, steady government spending and firmer investment momentum, reflecting shifts under the revised GDP series

The organising idea is clear: India is no longer trying to grow fast; it is trying to grow well

Today's Best of BS Opinion covers US tariff threats linked to Russian oil, the Grok AI content debate, small finance banks' record, cracks in India's growth story, and a Cold War spy tale

India's consumption story spans mass and class markets alike, with demand spread across regions and incomes, calling for better tracking of household cash flows rather than outdated binaries

India will use household consumption survey data to estimate spending in the revised GDP series, reflecting a shift as families now spend more on non-food items than food

The IMF upgraded its China growth forecast for 2025 to 5%, from 4.8%, citing the production powerhouse's strong outbound shipments, also lifting its 2026 forecast to 4.5%, from 4.2%

Economists reckon this recovery could be a sign of the broadbasing of consumption in the economy, with rural consumption leading the way

FY26 estimates to be revised upwards after faster-than-expected expansion

"If India can secure a trade agreement with the US, it will reduce uncertainty and enhance confidence, which would boost labour-intensive sectors," the report added

India has moved to the center of KKR's Asia strategy as domestic consumption rises and policy remains supportive of private capital, Nuttall said

Studds Accessories IPO opened on October 30 and will close for subscription on Monday, November 3, while Lenskart Solutions is set to launch its ₹7,278 crore IPO on Friday, October 31

Urban consumer perceptions on the economic situation are still in the negative zone, though getting progressively less negative from January 2025

Motilal Oswal Consumption Fund will focus on high-growth pockets of the consumption theme, including organised retail, digital services enabling consumption