Global Scans · Consumer · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Technology will become the new sales assistant, always on, always friendly, always delivering. Consumers will co-create and create products to their exact needs. Brands will have to focus on seizing mobile moments on apps that already have consumer's attention. Instantly explore below how lifestyles, buying behaviors and attitudes are changing and where you fall short in the battle to win consumers hearts and minds.

• [New] Emerging markets tell the opposite story: core consumer populations are expected to grow by 65% in Africa, 37% in Emerging Asia, and 16% in Latin America. World Data Lab
• [New] In 2027, Emerging Asia will overtake advanced economies in total consumer spending for the first time ever, driven by the rapid expansion of its middle-class population. World Data Lab
• [New] Modeling consumer trends and demographic change through 2050, World Data Lab covers 99.5% of the world's population across 190+ countries, 9,000+ cities, and 200+ spending categories. World Data Lab
• [New] Gen X accounted for approximately $15.2 trillion in consumer spending in 2025 and is expected to remain the world's highest-spending generation through 2033. NIQ
• [New] The Product segment is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.5% during 2026-2034, supported by diverse consumer preferences for taste, texture, and nutritional profiles. The Insight Partners
• [New] Germany's strong engineering capabilities and consumer preference for premium electronic products are expected to support continued wearable technology adoption through the forecast period. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Consumer electronics are anticipated to dominate with a share of nearly 32.8% in 2026, as smartphones, tablets, laptops, gaming devices, smart TVs, wearables, and home electronics are produced in enormous volumes and require continuous semiconductor assembly and testing. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Consumer spending was better than expected in August with the U.S. Census Bureau reporting overall retail sales growth of 0.3% month-over-month and 9% year-over-year. nationaljeweler.com
• [New] Retail and digital experiences shaping consumer choices Retail environments and digital platforms will significantly impact the adoption of new trends for Christmas 2026. Furniture news
• [New] With the US consumer increasingly struggling, we expect growth headwinds to start mounting in 2027. investing.com
• [New] The ASEAN + 3 Macroeconomic Research Office now expects the regional bloc to expand by 4.1% in 2026, slightly higher than its 4.0% forecast issued in June, as technology exports and consumer demand offset the impact of higher energy costs and global uncertainty. Daily Tribune
• [New] The global FMCG industry is expected to keep being one of the most competitive sectors in 2026, pushed by shifting consumer expectations, omnichannel retail expansion, AI powered decision making, and the continuous pressure on profit margins. Global Risk Community
• [New] PQ Media forecasts an acceleration in global consumer spending on media and tech to 3.7% in 2026, up from 2.8% in 2025, largely fueled by events like the Winter Olympics in Italy, the FIFA World Cup tri-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, and a host of federal elections worldwide. Kavout
• The most important use case for IoT devices in the consumer segment are consumer internet & media devices such as smartphones, where the number of IoT devices is forecast to grow to more than 17 billion by 2033. Statista
• AkashML offers one-click model endpoints; Homenode adds consumer GPU contribution; Starcluster plans to acquire ~7,200 NVIDIA GB200 GPUs via vetted Nodekeepers. Canonical
• Crypto firms will need to obtain FCA authorization and comply with new prudential, governance, operational resilience, and consumer protection requirements. Sumsub
• In 2026, companies will use AI not simply to automate repetitive jobs but also to protect cybersecurity, improve consumer experiences, make better decisions, and generate new revenue streams. -
• Asia Pacific is anticipated to lead in 2026 with a share of nearly 37.1%, because it is the global hub for consumer electronics and semiconductor production. Persistence Market Research
• The consumer electronics segment is anticipated to dominate with a share of nearly 40.2% in 2026 because motion sensing is now a core user interface feature. Persistence Market Research
• The convergence of insecurity, population displacement and mobility, and cross-border movements complicate response operations and increase the risk of further geographical spread. BBC News
• Consumer views remain cautious: while 53% expect AI to improve access to care and 46% expect lower costs, only one in three U.S. adults uses AI chatbots for health information. MedTech Daily
• OpenAI's first consumer device is reportedly a screenless, portable ChatGPT smart speaker with cameras, sensors, GPT-Live voice, and moving parts, aiming for a 2027 release. AI-Weekly

Last updated: 20 August 2026