Consumer behaviour

The Asian playbook for global brands no longer works

Singapore couples are more particular about spending; smaller party sizes; and emerging new services.
BRUNCH

Are Singaporeans tightening purse strings as they tie the knot?

Spending per May holiday trip fell to 571 yuan, from 574.1 yuan in 2025, Reuters calculations based on official data showed.

China’s May Day overall tourism activity rises, but travellers are cautious

For Singapore investors, when it comes to China exposure, the question is not how much China, but which, says the writer.

Quiet malls, full containers: The two-speed reality of the Chinese economy

Structural and cyclical forces are converging across China, Japan, India and South-east Asia, with early signals having emerged throughout 2025.

Is 2026 the start of the world’s next consumer super-cycle?

CEO Donald Kng hopes revenue from Vetreska’s Fur stores can hit “seven digits in Singapore dollars”.

Singapore is the ‘litmus test’ for how much consumers will spend on their pets: Vetreska CEO Donald Kng

Physical stores remain popular and outperform e-commerce overall, with 27% preferring to shop in-store.
RETAIL

How AI is transforming Singapore consumers’ shopping habits

Courts has automatically added unsolicited items into consumers’ shopping carts, while Prism+ has used fake countdown timers and misleading stock indicators.

Singapore consumer watchdog raps Courts, Prism+ for misleading website features

The panel discussion on consumer trends at Asia Future Summit 2025, from left: Cheryl Cheong of Samsung Electronics Singapore, Li Simeng of Chagee and Lien Choong Luen of Gojek. The panel discussion was moderated by Jeremy Au Yong, associate editor of The Straits Times.

Consumers driven by gratification and experience, not just cost, say Asian brand leaders

In less than three years, OpenAI's ChatGPT has amassed more than 700 million weekly users, 99% of whom are individual consumers using free and paid versions of the program.

AI’s path to profits is being driven by consumers