{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"156409","rtpr_id":"nBw3XWFSKa-20260930","ticker":"NIQ","exchange":"NYSE","all_tickers":["NIQ"],"title":"34% of Global Consumers Say They Are Worse Off Financially Than a Year Ago as Households Adapt to a New Era of Permanent Uncertainty, NIQ Finds","author":"Business Wire","published_at":"2026-09-30T10:45:00.138Z","article_body":"34% of Global Consumers Say They Are Worse Off Financially Than a Year Ago as\nHouseholds Adapt to a New Era of Permanent Uncertainty, NIQ Finds\n\nLatest NIQ Consumer Outlook survey and report reveals shoppers are becoming\nmore selective, with more than $23 billion shifting away from\nmainstream-priced CPG products toward value and premium alternatives\n\nWith over a third (34%) of global consumers saying they are financially worse\noff than they were a year ago, and another third (30%) saying they are\nfinancially better off, consumers are no longer waiting for economic\nconditions to improve. Around the world, households are adapting to a future\nwhere volatility remains a persistent reality, creating increasingly different\nfinancial outcomes, spending priorities, and pathways to growth.\n\nThis press release features multimedia. View the full release here:\nhttps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260930542911/en/\n(https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260930542911/en/)\n\nNIQ's Consumer Outlook: Guide to 2027\n\nThese findings come from NielsenIQ’s (NYSE: NIQ) latest global Consumer\nOutlook survey of more than 21,000 respondents across 31 countries, combined\nwith NIQ's measurement of real-world purchasing behavior. The research reveals\nthat economic uncertainty is no longer a temporary disruption, but a defining\nfeature of how consumers make decisions.\n\nFindings include:\n\n\n * 34% of global consumers globally say they are financially worse off than they\nwere a year ago, while 30% of consumers say they are financially better off\n\n * 77% of financially challenged consumers blame rising living costs for their\nworsening financial situation\n\n * More than $23 billion USD in value share has shifted away from\nmainstream-priced CPG products toward value and premium alternatives\n\n * 34% of global shoppers say quality and performance are the leading\ndeterminants of whether a purchase is worthwhile\n\n * A basket costing $100 USD in 2024 now costs approximately $105 USD, globally\n\nThe research reveals a growing consumer divide; as households navigate rising\ncosts, shifting priorities, and uneven financial circumstances, they are\nbecoming more deliberate about what they purchase, where they shop, and which\nbrands they choose. But this is not simply a story of consumers trading down:\nNIQ’s measured data shows spending shifting away from the mainstream middle\ntoward both value and premium alternatives, as consumers seek products that\nclearly justify either the savings they offer or the premium they command.\n\n“The most important story is not that consumers are under pressure, it's\nthat they’re responding to that pressure in fundamentally different ways,”\nsaid Lauren Fernandes, Vice President, Global Content at NIQ. “The next\nphase of consumer growth will be shaped less by the average consumer and more\nby increasingly different spending realities. Across many markets, we are\nseeing consumers gravitate toward either meaningful savings or meaningful\nupgrades, creating pressure on the middle of the market and forcing brands to\nbe much clearer about where they compete and why they matter.”\n\nThe findings suggest that economic polarization is no longer simply an\neconomic phenomenon. It is increasingly visible within measured consumer\nbehavior, spending intentions, and market structure itself. As growth\nconcentrates across value and premium segments, organizations will need a more\nnuanced understanding of where demand is emerging, which consumers are driving\nit, and how those dynamics differ from market to market. To learn more, visit\nniq.com/consumer-outlook-2027\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fnielseniq.com%2Fglobal%2Fen%2Finsights%2Freport%2F2026%2Fconsumer-outlook-guide-to-2027%2F&esheet=54612967&newsitemid=20260930542911&lan=en-US&anchor=niq.com%2Fconsumer-outlook-2027&index=1&md5=a4a77a92dc8b09fbb9436d05a4d0b582)\n.\n\nFAQs\n\nQ: What is Consumer Outlook: Guide to 2027?\n\nA: Consumer Outlook: Guide to 2027 is NIQ's latest global thought leadership\nreport exploring how consumers are adapting to ongoing economic uncertainty,\nshifting spending priorities, and changing purchasing behaviors. The report\ncombines NIQ's global consumer survey data with observed retail purchasing\nbehavior to identify emerging trends shaping consumer markets worldwide.\n\nQ: How was the research conducted?\n\nA: The findings are based on NIQ's global Consumer Outlook survey of more than\n21,000 consumers across 31 countries, combined with NIQ's measurement of\nreal-world purchasing behavior across global retail markets.\n\nQ: What does the $23 billion shift away from mainstream-priced products mean?\n\nA: NIQ's analysis found that consumers are increasingly moving spending away\nfrom traditionally mainstream-priced consumer packaged goods and toward either\nvalue-oriented options that help stretch budgets or premium products that\noffer perceived quality, performance, or other benefits that justify a higher\nprice.\n\nQ: Are consumers simply trading down because of inflation?\n\nA: No. The research suggests a more nuanced trend. While some consumers are\nseeking savings and value, others continue to spend on premium products that\nthey believe are worth the additional cost. This has created increasing\npolarization in spending patterns across many categories.\n\nQ: What is driving the growing consumer divide?\n\nA: Consumers are experiencing economic conditions differently. Rising living\ncosts, income differences, varying levels of financial resilience, and\nchanging personal priorities are contributing to different spending behaviors\nand financial outcomes.\n\nQ: What does this mean for brands and retailers?\n\nA: Brands and retailers may need to move beyond a one-size-fits-all strategy.\nUnderstanding which consumer segments are driving growth, how spending\npriorities differ, and where consumers perceive value can help organizations\nbetter position products and marketing investments.\n\nAbout NIQ\n\nNielsenIQ (NYSE: NIQ) is a leading consumer intelligence company, delivering\nthe most complete and trusted understanding of consumer buying behavior and\nrevealing new pathways to growth. By combining an unmatched global data\nfootprint and granular consumer and retail measurement with decades of AI\nmodeling expertise, NIQ builds decision systems that help companies turn\ncomplex data into confident action.\n\nWith operations in more than 90 countries, NIQ covers approximately 82% of the\nworld’s population and more than $7.4 trillion in global consumer spend.\nThrough cloud-based platforms, advanced analytics and AI-driven insights, NIQ\ndelivers The Full View™—helping brands and retailers understand what\nconsumers buy, why they buy it, and what to do next.\n\nFor more information, please visit www.niq.com\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.niq.com%2F&esheet=54612967&newsitemid=20260930542911&lan=en-US&anchor=www.niq.com&index=2&md5=4f437af506cf0a17f73d6981251d02ff)\n.\n\n© 2026 Nielsen Consumer LLC. All Rights Reserved.\n\nForward Looking Statement\n\nThis press release regarding Consumer Outlook: Guide to 2027 may contain\nforward-looking statements regarding anticipated consumer behaviors, market\ntrends, and industry developments. These statements reflect current\nexpectations and projections based on available data, historical patterns, and\nvarious assumptions. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,”\n“projects,” “believes,” “forecasts,” and similar expressions are\nintended to identify such forward-looking statements.\n\nThese statements are not guarantees of future outcomes and are subject to\ninherent uncertainties, including changes in consumer preferences, economic\nconditions, technological advancements, and competitive dynamics. Actual\nresults may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these\nstatements. While we strive to base our insights on reliable data and sound\nmethodologies, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking\nstatements to reflect future events or circumstances, except to the extent\nrequired by applicable law.\n\nNIQ-General\n\n\n\nView source version on businesswire.com:\nhttps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260930542911/en/\n(https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260930542911/en/)\n\nMedia: media.relations@nielseniq.com (mailto:media.relations@nielseniq.com)\n\n\nCopyright Business Wire 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nBw3XWFSKa-20260930","title":"34% of Global Consumers Say They Are Worse Off Financially Than a Year Ago as Households Adapt to a New Era of Permanent Uncertainty, NIQ Finds","author":"Business Wire","ticker":"NIQ","created":"2026-09-30T10:45:00.138Z","tickers":["NIQ"],"exchange":"NYSE","article_body":"34% of Global Consumers Say They Are Worse Off Financially Than a Year Ago as\nHouseholds Adapt to a New Era of Permanent Uncertainty, NIQ Finds\n\nLatest NIQ Consumer Outlook survey and report reveals shoppers are becoming\nmore selective, with more than $23 billion shifting away from\nmainstream-priced CPG products toward value and premium alternatives\n\nWith over a third (34%) of global consumers saying they are financially worse\noff than they were a year ago, and another third (30%) saying they are\nfinancially better off, consumers are no longer waiting for economic\nconditions to improve. Around the world, households are adapting to a future\nwhere volatility remains a persistent reality, creating increasingly different\nfinancial outcomes, spending priorities, and pathways to growth.\n\nThis press release features multimedia. View the full release here:\nhttps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260930542911/en/\n(https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260930542911/en/)\n\nNIQ's Consumer Outlook: Guide to 2027\n\nThese findings come from NielsenIQ’s (NYSE: NIQ) latest global Consumer\nOutlook survey of more than 21,000 respondents across 31 countries, combined\nwith NIQ's measurement of real-world purchasing behavior. The research reveals\nthat economic uncertainty is no longer a temporary disruption, but a defining\nfeature of how consumers make decisions.\n\nFindings include:\n\n\n * 34% of global consumers globally say they are financially worse off than they\nwere a year ago, while 30% of consumers say they are financially better off\n\n * 77% of financially challenged consumers blame rising living costs for their\nworsening financial situation\n\n * More than $23 billion USD in value share has shifted away from\nmainstream-priced CPG products toward value and premium alternatives\n\n * 34% of global shoppers say quality and performance are the leading\ndeterminants of whether a purchase is worthwhile\n\n * A basket costing $100 USD in 2024 now costs approximately $105 USD, globally\n\nThe research reveals a growing consumer divide; as households navigate rising\ncosts, shifting priorities, and uneven financial circumstances, they are\nbecoming more deliberate about what they purchase, where they shop, and which\nbrands they choose. But this is not simply a story of consumers trading down:\nNIQ’s measured data shows spending shifting away from the mainstream middle\ntoward both value and premium alternatives, as consumers seek products that\nclearly justify either the savings they offer or the premium they command.\n\n“The most important story is not that consumers are under pressure, it's\nthat they’re responding to that pressure in fundamentally different ways,”\nsaid Lauren Fernandes, Vice President, Global Content at NIQ. “The next\nphase of consumer growth will be shaped less by the average consumer and more\nby increasingly different spending realities. Across many markets, we are\nseeing consumers gravitate toward either meaningful savings or meaningful\nupgrades, creating pressure on the middle of the market and forcing brands to\nbe much clearer about where they compete and why they matter.”\n\nThe findings suggest that economic polarization is no longer simply an\neconomic phenomenon. It is increasingly visible within measured consumer\nbehavior, spending intentions, and market structure itself. As growth\nconcentrates across value and premium segments, organizations will need a more\nnuanced understanding of where demand is emerging, which consumers are driving\nit, and how those dynamics differ from market to market. To learn more, visit\nniq.com/consumer-outlook-2027\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fnielseniq.com%2Fglobal%2Fen%2Finsights%2Freport%2F2026%2Fconsumer-outlook-guide-to-2027%2F&esheet=54612967&newsitemid=20260930542911&lan=en-US&anchor=niq.com%2Fconsumer-outlook-2027&index=1&md5=a4a77a92dc8b09fbb9436d05a4d0b582)\n.\n\nFAQs\n\nQ: What is Consumer Outlook: Guide to 2027?\n\nA: Consumer Outlook: Guide to 2027 is NIQ's latest global thought leadership\nreport exploring how consumers are adapting to ongoing economic uncertainty,\nshifting spending priorities, and changing purchasing behaviors. The report\ncombines NIQ's global consumer survey data with observed retail purchasing\nbehavior to identify emerging trends shaping consumer markets worldwide.\n\nQ: How was the research conducted?\n\nA: The findings are based on NIQ's global Consumer Outlook survey of more than\n21,000 consumers across 31 countries, combined with NIQ's measurement of\nreal-world purchasing behavior across global retail markets.\n\nQ: What does the $23 billion shift away from mainstream-priced products mean?\n\nA: NIQ's analysis found that consumers are increasingly moving spending away\nfrom traditionally mainstream-priced consumer packaged goods and toward either\nvalue-oriented options that help stretch budgets or premium products that\noffer perceived quality, performance, or other benefits that justify a higher\nprice.\n\nQ: Are consumers simply trading down because of inflation?\n\nA: No. The research suggests a more nuanced trend. While some consumers are\nseeking savings and value, others continue to spend on premium products that\nthey believe are worth the additional cost. This has created increasing\npolarization in spending patterns across many categories.\n\nQ: What is driving the growing consumer divide?\n\nA: Consumers are experiencing economic conditions differently. Rising living\ncosts, income differences, varying levels of financial resilience, and\nchanging personal priorities are contributing to different spending behaviors\nand financial outcomes.\n\nQ: What does this mean for brands and retailers?\n\nA: Brands and retailers may need to move beyond a one-size-fits-all strategy.\nUnderstanding which consumer segments are driving growth, how spending\npriorities differ, and where consumers perceive value can help organizations\nbetter position products and marketing investments.\n\nAbout NIQ\n\nNielsenIQ (NYSE: NIQ) is a leading consumer intelligence company, delivering\nthe most complete and trusted understanding of consumer buying behavior and\nrevealing new pathways to growth. By combining an unmatched global data\nfootprint and granular consumer and retail measurement with decades of AI\nmodeling expertise, NIQ builds decision systems that help companies turn\ncomplex data into confident action.\n\nWith operations in more than 90 countries, NIQ covers approximately 82% of the\nworld’s population and more than $7.4 trillion in global consumer spend.\nThrough cloud-based platforms, advanced analytics and AI-driven insights, NIQ\ndelivers The Full View™—helping brands and retailers understand what\nconsumers buy, why they buy it, and what to do next.\n\nFor more information, please visit www.niq.com\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.niq.com%2F&esheet=54612967&newsitemid=20260930542911&lan=en-US&anchor=www.niq.com&index=2&md5=4f437af506cf0a17f73d6981251d02ff)\n.\n\n© 2026 Nielsen Consumer LLC. All Rights Reserved.\n\nForward Looking Statement\n\nThis press release regarding Consumer Outlook: Guide to 2027 may contain\nforward-looking statements regarding anticipated consumer behaviors, market\ntrends, and industry developments. These statements reflect current\nexpectations and projections based on available data, historical patterns, and\nvarious assumptions. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,”\n“projects,” “believes,” “forecasts,” and similar expressions are\nintended to identify such forward-looking statements.\n\nThese statements are not guarantees of future outcomes and are subject to\ninherent uncertainties, including changes in consumer preferences, economic\nconditions, technological advancements, and competitive dynamics. Actual\nresults may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these\nstatements. While we strive to base our insights on reliable data and sound\nmethodologies, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking\nstatements to reflect future events or circumstances, except to the extent\nrequired by applicable law.\n\nNIQ-General\n\n\n\nView source version on businesswire.com:\nhttps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260930542911/en/\n(https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260930542911/en/)\n\nMedia: media.relations@nielseniq.com (mailto:media.relations@nielseniq.com)\n\n\nCopyright Business Wire 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-09-30T10:45:00.185705036Z","server_sent_at_ms":1790765100185},"received_at":"2026-09-30T10:45:00.309Z","source_url":"https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260930542911/en/"},"analysis":{"id":"145106","press_release_id":"156409","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Research & Consulting Services","sector":"Industrials"},"redFlags":[],"eventType":"other","narrative":"NIQ released its Consumer Outlook: Guide to 2027, a global survey of more than 21,000 consumers across 31 countries, finding 34% of global consumers say they are financially worse off than a year ago while 30% say they are better off.\n\nNIQ's measured purchasing data shows more than $23 billion in value share shifting away from mainstream-priced CPG products toward both value and premium alternatives — a barbell, not simple trade-down.\n\nThe release is thought leadership reinforcing NIQ's consumer-intelligence franchise rather than a disclosure of financial results; no guidance or corporate action is announced.","sentiment":"neutral","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Consumer barbell: $23B shifting from mainstream CPG to value and premium ends — relevant backdrop for CPG and retail names."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"pct_worse_off":"34%","pct_better_off":"30%","cpg_value_shift":"$23 billion","countries_surveyed":31,"survey_respondents":"more than 21,000","pct_blaming_living_costs":"77%","basket_inflation_since_2024":"$100 in 2024 now ~$105 globally","global_consumer_spend_covered":"$7.4 trillion"}},"quotedText":"The most important story is not that consumers are under pressure, it's that they’re responding to that pressure in fundamentally different ways","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Lauren Fernandes","role":"Vice President, Global Content at NIQ"}],"products":["Consumer Outlook: Guide to 2027","The Full View™"],"companies":[{"name":"NielsenIQ (NIQ)","ticker":"NIQ","relationship":"filer/author"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$23 billion","context":"value share shifted away from mainstream-priced CPG products toward value and premium alternatives"},{"amount":"$100 USD","context":"2024 basket cost, now approximately $105 USD globally"},{"amount":"$7.4 trillion","context":"global consumer spend covered by NIQ measurement"}]},"materialImpact":{"score":1,"reasoning":"Issuer-authored thought-leadership report on global consumer trends; contains no financial results, guidance, or corporate action affecting NIQ directly. Its relevance is promotional credibility for NIQ's data franchise."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"NIQ"},"globalImportance":22,"audienceRelevance":30,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"mid-cap","eventGravity":"thought-leadership-report","sectorWeight":"consumer-insights-relevant-to-CPG-retail","issuerAuthored":true}},"event_type":"other","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"neutral","material_impact_score":1,"narrative":"NIQ released its Consumer Outlook: Guide to 2027, a global survey of more than 21,000 consumers across 31 countries, finding 34% of global consumers say they are financially worse off than a year ago while 30% say they are better off.\n\nNIQ's measured purchasing data shows more than $23 billion in value share shifting away from mainstream-priced CPG products toward both value and premium alternatives — a barbell, not simple trade-down.\n\nThe release is thought leadership reinforcing NIQ's consumer-intelligence franchise rather than a disclosure of financial results; no guidance or corporate action is announced.","key_figures":{"customDimensions":{"pct_worse_off":"34%","pct_better_off":"30%","cpg_value_shift":"$23 billion","countries_surveyed":31,"survey_respondents":"more than 21,000","pct_blaming_living_costs":"77%","basket_inflation_since_2024":"$100 in 2024 now ~$105 globally","global_consumer_spend_covered":"$7.4 trillion"}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Lauren Fernandes","role":"Vice President, Global Content at NIQ"}],"products":["Consumer Outlook: Guide to 2027","The Full View™"],"companies":[{"name":"NielsenIQ (NIQ)","ticker":"NIQ","relationship":"filer/author"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$23 billion","context":"value share shifted away from mainstream-priced CPG products toward value and premium alternatives"},{"amount":"$100 USD","context":"2024 basket cost, now approximately $105 USD globally"},{"amount":"$7.4 trillion","context":"global consumer spend covered by NIQ measurement"}]},"model_name":"glm-5.3-flashx","prompt_hash":"sha256:727b4b9429a443af","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-09-30T10:45:06.710Z","global_importance":22,"audience_relevance":30,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"mid-cap","eventGravity":"thought-leadership-report","sectorWeight":"consumer-insights-relevant-to-CPG-retail","issuerAuthored":true}},"durationMs":6385,"modelName":"glm-5.3-flashx"}}