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21 October 2024

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ConsumerSignals

ConsumerSignals is a longitudinal exploration of consumer spending behavior and the drivers behind it. Every month, we survey thousands of consumers across more than a dozen countries about their sense of financial well-being, spending intentions, and upcoming purchases big and small—from their next trip to the grocery store to upcoming vacations, next vehicle purchase, and more.

Now in its third year, ConsumerSignals provides a view into consumers’ everyday finances and the spending strategies being used to navigate an unpredictable world. We invite you to explore our interactive data dashboard, collection of proprietary consumer indices, and deep-dive articles.

Global financial well-being

103.0

The global financial well-being index decreased to 103.0 in September, down from 103.7 last month, and up from 100.5 a year ago.

Financial and spending sentiment

Financial well-being

Financial well-being sentiment continues to recover from 2022 lows. But the recovery’s pace is losing momentum.

Explore financial well-being

Spending intent

The recovery in financial sentiment has yet to translate to stronger discretionary spending intentions so far in 2024.​

Explore spending intent
Jump to Sector Insights

Retail & consumer products

The percentage of respondents engaging in cost-saving behaviors at grocery stores remains in flux as many across the globe acclimate to a jump in food prices.

Explore retail & consumer products

Travel & hospitality

While a run of strong leisure travel intent shows signs of easing, many continue to prioritize leisure travel ahead of other discretionary categories.​

Explore travel & hospitality

Automotive

Global vehicle purchase intent shows mixed signals across key markets.

Explore automotive

Table of contents

Financial well-being Spending intent Retail & consumer products Travel & hospitality Automotive Related content

Financial well-being

Deloitte's financial well-being index (FWBI) captures changes in how consumers are feeling about their present-day financial health and future financial security. Unlike consumer confidence indices, which often focus on consumer opinion about economic conditions (e.g., health of the economy or labor market), the financial well-being index focuses on the consumer’s own financial experience, where they’re the experts.

Deloitte's financial well-being index (FWBI)

April 2020 = 100 (unless noted otherwise)

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Spending Categories

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Australia

How we measure financial well-being

Financial well-being is measured across six dimensions of financial health (details in the info button above).

Higher index values indicate stronger financial well-being.

The global index line represents an average of eight of the top 10 global economies by 2022 GDP according to World Bank.

KEY Takeaways

The global financial well-being index decreased to 103.0 in September, down from 103.7 last month, and up from 100.5 a year ago.

Dive Deeper

Global financial well-being: A robust recovery losing momentum

ARTICLE 8-MIN READ

Consumers navigate financial ups and downs

ARTICLE 4-MIN READ

Explore financial well-being

Delve into the metrics that comprise Deloitte’s FWBI and more

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Spending Categories

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Australia

Age: 22 – 30

Income: High

KEY TAKEAWAYS

36% of global survey respondents say their finances are worse compared to last year, down from 40% 12 months ago.

Dive Deeper

Financing today, banking on tomorrow

ARTICLE 6-MIN READ

From one financial challenge to the next

ARTICLE 6-MIN READ

The pursuit of happiness … if you can afford it

ARTICLE 6-MIN READ

Global inflation concern

Percentage of survey respondents concerned about rising prices for everyday purchases

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Australia

Age: 22 – 30

Income: High

Source: Deloitte research, current survey wave.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Concern around rising prices persists and remains widespread, but inflation sentiment varies significantly by country. The percentage expecting higher gas/fuel prices is back on the rise.

Dive Deeper

When inflation concerns persist for too long

ARTICLE 5-MIN READ

Global inflation concern: A longitudinal view

Percentage of survey respondents concerned about rising prices for everyday purchases

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Spending Categories

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Australia

Age: 22 – 30

Income: High

Source: Deloitte research from September 2021 to present.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

75% of global respondents are concerned about rising prices for everyday purchases, down from 77% 12 months ago.

Dive Deeper

Living in inflation’s wake

ARTICLE 4-MIN READ

Spending intent

Spending intentions represent the amount consumers estimate they’ll spend over the next four weeks.

Spending intentions index

Estimated monthly spending amount (% change) (Base = Avg Oct/Nov/Dec 2021)

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Spending Categories

All Non-discretionary categories
Groceries
Health care
Housing
Transportation
All discretionary categories
Child care
Clothing
Education
Electronics
Everyday household goods
Home furnishings
Leisure travel
Mobile/data/internet
Personal care
Recreation and entertainment
Restaurants/takeout
Saving and investing
Total spending

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Australia

Age: 22 – 30

Income: High

Methodology Note

Spending intentions are represented using a three-month exponential moving average (EMA). An exponential moving average (EMA) is a type of moving average that places more weight on recent data points, making it more responsive to recent price changes compared to a simple moving average (SMA). EMA is commonly used to smooth out data and help visualize long-term trends.

Non-discretionary categories were recategorized to include housing, transportation, groceries, and health care.

Source: Deloitte research from November 2021 to present.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Global total spending intentions held steady in October compared to last month and increased slightly compared to a year ago.

Retail & consumer products

Insights on everyday purchases to splurges

Food frugality index (FFI)

Sept 2022 = 100

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Spending Categories

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Australia

Age: 22 – 30

Income: High

What is the FFI?

Everyone needs to eat, but food is becoming less affordable for some.

The FFI is a monthly proprietary measure of behaviors associated with financial stress at the grocery store—and how they may be shaping the way consumers shop for food.

Higher index values indicate consumers cite being more frugal.

Source: Deloitte research from September 2022 to present.

KEY Takeaways

The global food frugality index decreased to 95.5 in September, down from 97.6 last month, and down from 100.9 a year ago.

Dive Deeper

Food fight: Consumers confront inflation with frugality

ARTICLE 7-MIN READ

Food frugality behaviors

Explore the cost-saving behaviors that comprise Deloitte’s FFI

KEY Takeaways

Globally, saving by reducing at-home food waste and only buying essentials are among the two most popular ways consumers continue to navigate higher food prices.

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Economize

Trade-off

Australia

Age: 22 – 30

Income: High

Economize

Trade-off

Source: Deloitte research from September 2022 to present.

Price perceptions

Percentage of respondents that expect higher prices next month

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Categories

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Australia

Age: 22 – 30

Income: High

Methodology Note

From September 2021 to August 2022, respondents cited their perception of current prices compared to the prior month. Starting in September 2022, respondents cited their expectations of prices in the upcoming month.

Source: Deloitte research from September 2021 to present.

KEY Takeaways

58% of global respondents expect higher gas/fuel prices in September, down from 72% 12 months ago.

Splurge purchases

Insight into where consumers are splurging, how much they’re spending, and what’s driving it

KEY Takeaways

72% of US respondents in September made at least one splurge purchase to treat themselves, down from 80% last month, and down from 80% a year ago.

0

Median amount of last splurge purchase

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Spending Categories

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Australia

Age: 22 – 30

Income: High

Methodology Note

Data shown represents the percentage of survey respondents who made their last splurge purchase in a particular category (rolling two months).

Source: Deloitte research from September 2022 to present.

Dive Deeper

For consumers, splurges aren’t just lipstick

ARTICLE 5-MIN READ
Top three drivers of joy purchases

Among respondents who made a splurge purchase in the past month

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Travel & hospitality

A view into global leisure travel demand and how consumers are weighing planning decisions for upcoming trips

Year over year travel spending intentions

Indexed % change

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Spending Categories

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Australia

Age: 22 – 30

Income: High

Methodology Note

Starting in September 2022, a split-sample approach was taken to control for agreement bias. Respondents were randomly shown a positive or negative version of each statement.

Source: Deloitte research from September 2022 to December 2022

KEY Takeaways

Leisure travel booking intentions continue to show resilience, with most segments even (or stronger) year-on-year.

Private accommodations remain an exception.

Leisure travel intentions

Percentage that plan to engage in each travel segment for leisure travel within the next three months

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Spending Categories

Car rental
Cruise
Domestic flight
Hotel
International flight
Private accomodation
Rail

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Australia

Age: 22 – 30

Income: High

Source: Deloitte research from September 2021 to present.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

48% of global respondents plan to book hotels for leisure travel within the next six months, up from 45% a year ago.

Dive Deeper

Bags packed: Reuniting with lost vacations

ARTICLE 4-MIN READ

Travel planning (net intent)

Which statements best describe how you’re thinking about your next leisure trip? (among survey respondents planning to travel for leisure within the next three months)

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Spending Categories

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Australia

Age: 22 — 30

Income: High

Methodology Note

Net intent represents the percentage of survey respondents that selected the more expensive trip option (top row) minus the less expensive trip option (bottom row).

Source: Deloitte research from September 2022 to present.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Globally, consumers say they are least willing to make cost compromises around hotel locations, vacation destinations, and convenience of flight itineraries.

Automotive

Exploring vehicle purchase intentions and key mobility behaviors

Vehicle purchase intent (VPI) index

October 2021 = 100

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Spending Categories

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Australia

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Vehicle purchase intent varies from country to country and is largely dependent on factors like consumer demographics and their purchasing power, economic conditions, vehicle prices, fuel prices, and government policies and regulations.

Dive Deeper

Mobility in the eye of the storm

ARTICLE 6-MIN READ
Top three drivers of purchase intent

What is the main reason you will be acquiring a vehicle?

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0%

Key behaviors impacting mobility

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Average daily driving distance

0%

Expecting higher gas/fuel prices next month

0

Number of days per week people work from home

Electric vehicle purchase intent

What type of engine would you prefer in your next vehicle?

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Spending Categories

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Australia

Age: 22 – 30

Income: High

KEY TAKEAWAYS

43% of global respondents would prefer an EV for their next vehicle, up from 40% a year ago.

Dive Deeper

Climbing the EV transformation mountain

ARTICLE 6-MIN READ

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