Overview
- UBA’s Cenarsecs survey (Nov 12–Dec 12) finds 72% reduced personal or family outlays in the prior three months, including 43% with significant cuts, 29% with minor cuts, 23% unchanged, and 5% higher.
- Cutbacks are uneven: 76% of women reported reductions versus 66% of men, while only 38% of top‑income households adjusted compared with 67% in the middle tier and 82% in lower‑income groups.
- Households are prioritizing essential goods, shifting to cheaper brands and smaller, more frequent purchases, yet many still value sustainability, with 75% weighing social or environmental factors and about 70% willing to pay more for sustainable products.
- Apparel and bookstores rank among the retail categories most affected by the pullback in discretionary spending.
- External gauges align with the survey: CAME reports November SME retail sales fell 4.1% year over year and 9.1% month over month, while Scentia tracks a 1.8% monthly dip in mass consumption and a 0.1% annual decline tied to stagnant real wages and greater job insecurity.