DATACART
42 ASIAN TRADER 17 OCTOBER 2025
onsumers are showing mixed
signs of financial resilience
heading into autumn 2025,
according to KPMG’s latest
Consumer Pulse. While 58 per cent
describe themselves as financially secure,
one in five (21 per cent) say they feel
insecure – reflecting the ongoing cost-of-
living strain.
A majority (62 per cent) believe the UK
economy is worsening, citing the cost of
groceries (81 per cent) and household utili
ties (77 per cent) as the top reasons. This
negative sentiment is translating directly
into spending patterns: four in ten consum
ers have cut back on eating out, a third are
buying fewer takeaways and clothes, while
a third report spending more on groceries.
Trading-down behaviours continue to
accelerate. A quarter of shoppers say they
are buying more discounted or promotion
al items, and almost as many are switch
ing to own-label or lower-cost retailers.
Meanwhile, use of loyalty schemes has also
risen sharply.
Price remains the dominant purchasing
driver, cited by 68 per cent of respond
Price pressure persists as shoppers
tighten discretionary spending
ents, followed by quality (52 per cent) and
convenience (31 per cent). With consumer
confidence fragile and economic caution
still widespread, retailers will need to bal
ance value, availability and loyalty incen
tives carefully to retain spend through the
critical winter trading period.