The Future Laboratory

Stat: Frugality has become a global status symbol

More than three-quarters of shoppers now engage in some form of trade-down behaviour, choosing cheaper alternatives, DIY solutions or secondhand products over premium purchases.

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North America

Precision luxury spending to boost US economy

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Food & Drink

The New Normal Update

The New Normal Briton has two children and thinks of himself as working or lower middle class. He goes on a foreign holiday at least once a year, earns around £25,428 a year, though probably has no savings, spends £45 a week on groceries and owns a house worth an average £204,359. He also owns at least three tvs and commutes for half an hour a…

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Europe

Japan’s youth get on their bikes

Browsing frugality

Stat: Frugality has become a global status symbol

Precision luxury spending to boost US economy

The New Normal Update

UK retail market to grow in next five years

Japanese consumers remain frugal

DIY falls by a half amongst Boomers

The most Insight-ful fashion stories of 2009

Japan’s youth get on their bikes

Browsing frugality

Stat: Frugality has become a global status symbol

Precision luxury spending to boost US economy

The New Normal Update

UK retail market to grow in next five years

Japanese consumers remain frugal

DIY falls by a half amongst Boomers

The most Insight-ful fashion stories of 2009

Japan’s youth get on their bikes