Surveyees from the region have painted a picture of worry over the increasing cost of utilities such as electricity, gas, water, petrol and fuel, as well as groceries and household essentials, with 69% of SEA consumers purchasing only essentials, substantially more than the global number of 49%, while 55% of SEA consumers are spending less on non-essential items to global consumers’ 51%.
According to the 13th edition of accounting firm Ernst and Young’s (EY) Future Consumer Index (FCI), consumers in Southeast Asia (SEA) are learning to live with less with the region’s rising cost of living.
The global survey sourced for responses from more than 22,000 consumers across 28 countries, including 3,000 respondents from SEA.
