Future Trends in Global Consumer Economies

By 2035, global macro forces and deep societal changes will unearth rich opportunities and pose new challenges for consumer-facing businesses.

By 2035, global macro forces and deep societal changes will unearth rich opportunities and pose new challenges for consumer-facing businesses. Executive teams have long struggled to predict the longevity of consumer behavior shifts, from dietary fads to technological adoption. While some trends have proven transient, understanding the longer-term evolution of consumption requires a comprehensive picture beyond current spending patterns. This article explores the future consumer economies identified by Bain’s Consumer Lab, incorporating macro-level forecasts and holistic analyses to offer a roadmap for businesses preparing for the next decade.

Mobility and Consumption Shifts

By 2035, the dynamics of mobility will drastically reshape consumption. Driven by climate change, economic pressures, and political instability, people will increasingly move across continents, countries, and neighborhoods. These movements will alter where and how consumption occurs, necessitating the redesign of dis…