The consumer goods market continues to increase sales despite inflation and geopolitical uncertainty
A report presented by Aecoc attributes to population growth the improvement registered in the first four months of the year
BarcelonaThe mass consumption market continues to grow in volume and value despite geopolitical instability and inflation that remains above central banks' targets. According to a report prepared by the consultancy Nielsen IQ, presented this Wednesday by the main association of manufacturers and distributors in the State (Aecoc), companies in the sector have experienced a 5.4% increase in revenue during the first four months of this year. Similarly, the study points to a 2.4% rise in marketed volume.
The document attributes the evolution mainly to population growth, driven by the arrival of citizens of foreign nationality. In this regard, the same report emphasizes that the foreign population in the State already represents 15% of the total and is consolidating as "one of the great drivers of consumption".
Despite the improvement recorded in a context of uncertainty, Nielsen and Aecoc point out that consumers continue to adjust their purchasing habits to control spending. Thus, they detect that households make more visits to the point of sale, with smaller purchases and stricter control over spending. Good proof of this behavior is reflected in the average increase in the average price of each shopping basket: between January and April, it increased by 2.8% year-on-year, below the 3.2% recorded in the same period last year.
Forecast of falls
In fact, and despite the good data for the first four months, 86% of companies in the sector foresee a drop in consumption by the end of 2026. At the same time, eight out of ten companies believe that consumers will be increasingly affected by the loss of purchasing power.
In parallel, the study highlights how current uncertainty is conditioning business planning. According to the report, two out of three groups in the sector admit to making decisions about commercial planning and investments with "more caution." Along the same lines, more than half, 56%, state that the current geopolitical situation forces them to review their plans much more frequently.