Consumers

A billion unserved consumers that can help rescue exporters hit by tariffs

Exporters are already adept at producing at scale and with low margins. When sales are under pressure due to tariffs, those skills can be used to tap into domestic consumption

Platform economy faces regulatory heat on price parity agreements

A recent European Court of Justice’s decision tightened the screws on price parity clauses on the ground that they can inhibit competition. India’s Competition Commission is also increasingly veering around to the view that these clauses could adversely affect both consumers and new market entrants. Platforms may have to tweak their business model to accommodate the emerging regulatory stance

How to avoid antitrust pitfalls in distribution

With manufacturers now opening a direct channel to potential customers, they have a dual role in relation to their traditional distributors. The roles are both complementary and competitive. With the Competition Commission using the European approach as a touchstone, emerging dual distribution models need to be carefully structured to avoid regulatory hassles

The hidden cost of convenience is adding to the rising e-waste crisis

The growing e-waste crisis is fuelled by impulsive buying and rapid technological upgrades. Consumers, businesses, and policymakers must prioritise sustainability, repair over replacement, and responsible recycling to mitigate environmental harm and ensure longer product lifespans

Wholesale inflation eases to 2% in July

The decline in wholesale price index follows the more significant decline in consumer price index below 4 percent for the first time in nearly five years

US economic slowdown? Watch what consumers do, not how they feel

Sentiment about the US economy has been improving, but the more reliable indicator is Americans’ ability to spend

Inflation feels bad to US consumers no matter how you define it

Rising prices make Americans gloomy about the economy, even if they're not climbing as fast as they used to

British consumers are being asked to defy gravity again

Appetite for food and fashion saved the consumer economy last year. They may not live up to the same expectations for 2024

Women are an overlooked resource in the battle to tame inflation

Letting female labour force participation slip again due to the end of pandemic-era child-care aid could be risky for productivity and ultimately consumer prices

US government estimates last quarter's economic growth was 2.1%, unchanged from previous estimate

Growth is believed to be accelerating in the current July-September quarter, fueled by still-free-spending consumers.

India needs to urgently implement front-of-pack labelling system for processed food

The introduction of warning labels is crucial to consumers, particularly those in rural areas, who face challenges such as limited access to nutritional and health information, language and literacy barriers, and health disparities. These warning labels enable them to quickly make informed and healthy choices

What is good for the Indian consumer will be good for Indian manufacturing

The government should create policies that expand the Indian consumer base for multiple products and impose higher quality standards to make industry globally competitive