Latest news with #consumerbehavior
Skift
8 hours ago
- Business
- Skift
Skift Travel Health Index: June 2025 Highlights
Despite heightened economic uncertainty and shifting consumer sentiment, the global travel industry showed resilience through the first half of 2025. The Skift Travel Health Index recorded 3% year-on-year growth in global travel performance as of June 2025. Report Overview This report highlights the latest insights from the Skift Travel Health Index. The index covers travel's performance since January 2020, up to and including June 2025. The Skift Travel Health Index is a real-time measure of the performance of the travel industry at large, and the core verticals within it. The Index provides the travel industry with a powerful tool for strategic planning, which is of utmost importance as times remain uncertain. Skift Research launched the Index in May 2020 as the Skift Recovery Index. At the start of 2022 we rebranded the Index as the Skift Travel Health Index, to reflect some far-ranging changes: the addition of many more indicators, additional data partners, and most importantly, our continued effort to track the industry health beyond the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are thankful for the continued support of our other data partners: Amadeus, Aviasales, Beyond, CarTrawler, Cendyn, Cloudbeds, Collinson, Criteo, Duetto, Hotelbeds, Key Data Dashboard, Lighthouse, Nium, OAG, Onyx CenterSource, Shiji Group, Skyscanner, Sojern, The Data Appeal Company, TravelgateX, and TrustYou. Their data allows us to provide you with a monthly assessment of travel's performance.
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
17 Steps To Elevate Brand Relevance Regardless Of Fluctuating Markets
With business uncertainty looming regularly, brand strategists must stay ahead of the game by planning their seasonal campaigns and everyday communications to strengthen loyalty and trust among their customers—who have plenty of other options to choose from when the market begins to change for better or worse. Below, 17 Forbes Business Development Council members each share one best practice to address reduced consumer demand and shifting purchasing behaviors during an often unforeseeable business climate. 1. Regularly Engage With Core Customers Continue to engage with core customers to understand their evolving needs. Then adapt the offering—whether that's through pricing, value-added services or bundling—to stay relevant. Agility and direct feedback loops are key to staying ahead of shifting behaviors. - Marek Niedzwiedz, aeXea Group 2. Pivot Quickly With A Purpose In uncertain times, the ability to pivot—with speed and purpose—is the ultimate competitive advantage. Invest in resilience readiness by building agile systems, empowering cross-functional teams and leveraging real-time data to adapt quickly. Anticipate change, test often and stay customer-obsessed. - Lori Thomas, MetTel 3. Remind Customers About Your Brand's Value Consistently reassure your customers that you can deliver, no matter what the current business or geopolitical climate is. It is key to remind them of your product's value in their business before a reduction occurs. At the same time, let your customers know that you understand business models are dynamic and that you can still support them in light of shifting demands. - Tlalit Bussi Tel Tzure, IceCure Medical 4. Create Authentic, Emotional Connections With Customers Understanding consumer behavior is crucial to determining what is of value and what consumers are willing to spend on. When consumers face financial restraints, their relationship with a brand is a crucial factor in whether they will continue to purchase from there. Consumers buy things that resonate with their core values, so finding a point of authentic, emotional connection helps retain business. - Amanda Cioletti, Informa Markets 5. Target High-Ranking Decision Makers Today's software buyers aren't just one person—they're an entire buying committee, and new members join that committee all the time. This includes CFOs and other C-suite professionals who may not have been your target customer in the past. Teams must shift their focus to selling to a larger group of high-ranking decision makers who are more likely to scrutinize the deal. - Toby Carrington, Seismic Forbes Business Development Council is an invitation-only community for sales and biz dev executives. Do I qualify? 6. Simplify Your Product Message When demand drops, the smart play is to simplify and add value. Consumers are looking for transparency and efficiency. Using AI and real-time data to personalize and streamline the experience isn't just smart—it's how you stay relevant and earn trust in a volatile market. - Erik Greenstein, United Parcel Service 7. Use Data Insights To Track Consumer Patterns Capturing and utilizing real-time data is critical to remaining competitive in this fast-paced, data-rich environment. From rapid responses to market changes and improved inventory selection to moving with customer needs and utilizing predictive insights, using data to stay responsive to change will aid in exceeding consumer expectations and ensuring your company's flexibility. - Jim O'Brien, The Raymond Corporation 8. Focus On High ROI And Retention-Rich Market Segments Use a data-driven investment framework to reallocate spend toward high ROI and retention-rich segments. In uncertain markets, focus on durable growth—optimize for margin, lifetime value and early retention signals, not just volume. Let performance guide precision. - Shikha Agarwal, Yelp 9. Highlight Brand Essentials When demand drops, listen closely to your customers. Maybe their needs have changed, and you didn't keep pace, or the business relationship grew distant over time. Understand what created the shift in price, competition or priorities. Cut the fluff, focus on essentials and adapt your offer to meet real needs. In uncertain markets, relevance, simplicity and clear value win. Agility is your key advantage. - Anna Jankowska, RTB House 10. Build Long-Term Trust With Your Consumer Base People do business with people they trust, especially during an uncertain business climate. Trust is built through a unified, consistent experience across your go-to-market teams. If you've been able to build trust over time and deliver value at every stage of the customer journey, you'll be top of mind when your customers are ready to buy. - Julie Thomas, ValueSelling Associates 11. Make Every Effort To Maintain (And Explain) Price Points In times of uncertain demand, maintaining pricing consistency (not raising prices) can reassure your customers that they can count on you as a supplier. Consider lowering prices to help customers out in tough times. If prices need to be raised, such as with tariffs or supply chain disruptions, clear communications and explanations are key. - Doug Fuehne, Pricefx 12. Diversify Your Customer Acquisition Strategy A key component to being responsive to shifting purchase behaviors and demand is to ensure you have a diversified customer acquisition strategy. Being overly dependent on a single vertical or partner makes you less flexible and more vulnerable to demand changes. Having a diversified product distribution channel enables you to lean in where demand stays strong or increases when others soften. - Mark Cerminaro, Rapid Finance 13. Avoid Chasing Trends When demand drops and behaviors shift, start by truly listening to your customers. Then, let data guide your understanding of what's changing. We've found that combining human instinct with AI-driven insight helps us respond early and with confidence. Don't chase trends. Solve real problems. That's how you stay trusted and relevant, even in uncertain markets. - Ashu Goel, WinWire 14. Explain Your Product Solution In The Message In uncertain times, map your offering to emerging pain, not just value. As priorities shift, buyers seek solutions to urgent problems, not aspirations. Pivot messaging to address current friction. As the saying goes, 'Sell the problem you solve, not the product.' Be the painkiller—they'll trust what truly helps now. - Praneeth Kudithipudi, Sacumen 15. Stay Rooted In The Bare Basics When things are uncertain, go back to the basics. Talk to your customers, listen closely and notice what's really changing—not just what they buy, but why. Keep your offer simple, focus on what helps them and make it easy to choose you. What solves their problem is what stands out. - Vipin Thomas, SparrowGenie 16. Make Allowances For Untapped Markets Demand will always fluctuate unless you are in the general medicine or education sector. Businesses need to plan for the troughs and crests through a focus on untapped markets and blue oceans. It's necessary to keep operating expense (OpEx) budgets in control, retrain employees and develop long-term strategic planning, while also maintaining consistent engagement with existing loyal customers. - Anoma Baste, Space Matrix 17. Always Demonstrate Your Brand's Humanity Focus on deepening customer relationships. Use data to understand shifting needs, then personalize your offers, messaging and support. Loyalty comes from relevance, so adapt quickly, stay human and solve real problems. Brands that listen and respond with agility will stay top of mind, even when demand dips. - Luke Boddis,
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Analysis-Enough apologies: How Japan is shaking its price hike phobia
By Makiko Yamazaki and Takahiko Wada TOKYO (Reuters) -When Japanese ice pop maker Akagi Nyugyo raised its prices a meagre 10 yen in 2016, its sombre-faced management appeared in a one-minute commercial, bowing silently in apology as a melancholy folk song lamented the inevitability of price hikes. Almost a decade later, the Saitama-based company has changed its tune - a tongue-in-cheek advertising campaign last year promised in a series of photos to bow successively deeper for each of its next three price hikes. The lighter-hearted spin comes as Japanese firms, after decades of deflation, find a rare moment that allows them to raise prices without triggering the intense public backlash that once made such moves taboo. "Compared to when we raised prices in 2016, I'd say there's more of a sense now that the public is more accepting of price hikes," the company's marketing team leader Hideyuki Okamoto said. "The sentiment that price hikes are evil is receding." That shift in consumer mindset is driven by the biggest pay hikes in three decades and has given companies more confidence to pass on rising costs - something they long avoided for fear of losing customers. If sustained, the change could embolden the central bank to further raise interest rates, though that is dependent on just how much more households can absorb. The Bank of Japan is expected to keep its benchmark rates unchanged at this week's policy meeting but could signal its intention to resume rate hikes later in the year. Japan's consumer inflation has stayed above 2% for three years, driven largely by rising food prices, a sharp departure from the decades of near-zero inflation that followed the asset bubble collapse in the early 1990s. Nearly 200 major food makers expect to hike prices for 2,105 items in July - up fivefold from year-before levels - by an average 15%, a private think tank survey showed recently. "A few years ago, people would make a fuss over one or two items going up. Now it's dozens, even hundreds. You can't keep track anymore. There are just too many to remember," said Fusako Usuba, a 79-year-old pensioner. "But there's no way around it, because we all need to eat to survive," she added. WAGE GROWTH Japan's wave of price hikes initially began in 2022, triggered by external shocks such as post-pandemic supply chain disruptions, the war in Ukraine and the yen's subsequent depreciation. But economists say it is consumers' greater tolerance for higher prices - underpinned by three straight years of robust wage growth - that has kept the trend going. "Japanese consumers have come to realise they are now living in an era of persistent price increases," said Tsutomu Watanabe, emeritus professor of economics at the University of Tokyo. He said consumers are beginning to shift their focus from low prices to higher wages, as intensifying labour shortages give workers more bargaining power. According to a survey led by Watanabe, Japanese consumers were the most resistant to price hikes among five major countries four years ago, with a majority saying they would switch supermarkets if prices rose by 10%. But in the same survey last year, most said they would continue shopping at the same stores and buying the same items, bringing them in line with consumers in other countries. The key question now is whether the trend is sustainable. Meiji, Japan's top chocolate maker, has launched nine price hikes since 2022, reflecting soaring cocoa costs. "Back in 2022, we met resistance from retailers asking us to hold off a bit longer," said Akira Yoshida, general manager at Meiji's cacao marketing division. "Nowadays, they accept our price hikes more smoothly, so we assume their customers are also reluctantly going along." But Meiji, which holds a 25% market share and effectively sets industry prices, is now seeing signs of price fatigue. A 20% price hike in June, the biggest in recent years, led to a more than 20% drop in sales volume at some retailers, unlike in previous rounds where volume declines were smaller than the scale of price hikes. "We're increasingly concerned. There's only so much more we can raise prices," Yoshida said. "I think we'll need to change how people view chocolate - not as a commodity, but as a luxury." Rei Ihara, food sector analyst at UBS Securities, said the scope for further price hikes is narrowing, as Japan's Engel coefficient, the share of household spending on food, hit 28.3% in 2024, the highest in 43 years. "With prices rising year after year, consumers appear to be adjusting their purchasing habits, opting for less expensive options like chicken instead of beef, for example. For inflation to be sustainable, it must be supported by solid wage growth," he said. Inflation has outpaced nominal pay gains, pushing real wage growth into negative territory for months, fuelling frustration among voters that led to a major defeat of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's coalition in recent house elections. The outlook for wage growth is increasingly uncertain due to sweeping U.S. tariffs. Japanese exporters have so far avoided major price hikes in the U.S. to stay competitive, sacrificing profits. If that continues, it could limit their ability to raise wages next year. "We're at a turning point now," professor Watanabe said. "If this wage-driven price momentum fails, we may not see another opportunity like this in our lifetime. This moment is that rare." ($1 = 147.7700 yen) Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Enough apologies: How Japan is shaking its price hike phobia
TOKYO, July 29 (Reuters) - When Japanese ice pop maker Akagi Nyugyo raised its prices a meagre 10 yen in 2016, its sombre-faced management appeared in a one-minute commercial, bowing silently in apology as a melancholy folk song lamented the inevitability of price hikes. Almost a decade later, the Saitama-based company has changed its tune - a tongue-in-cheek advertising campaign last year promised in a series of photos to bow successively deeper for each of its next three price hikes. The lighter-hearted spin comes as Japanese firms, after decades of deflation, find a rare moment that allows them to raise prices without triggering the intense public backlash that once made such moves taboo. "Compared to when we raised prices in 2016, I'd say there's more of a sense now that the public is more accepting of price hikes," the company's marketing team leader Hideyuki Okamoto said. "The sentiment that price hikes are evil is receding." That shift in consumer mindset is driven by the biggest pay hikes in three decades and has given companies more confidence to pass on rising costs - something they long avoided for fear of losing customers. If sustained, the change could embolden the central bank to further raise interest rates, though that is dependent on just how much more households can absorb. The Bank of Japan is expected to keep its benchmark rates unchanged at this week's policy meeting but could signal its intention to resume rate hikes later in the year. Japan's consumer inflation has stayed above 2% for three years, driven largely by rising food prices, a sharp departure from the decades of near-zero inflation that followed the asset bubble collapse in the early 1990s. Nearly 200 major food makers expect to hike prices for 2,105 items in July - up fivefold from year-before levels - by an average 15%, a private think tank survey showed recently. "A few years ago, people would make a fuss over one or two items going up. Now it's dozens, even hundreds. You can't keep track anymore. There are just too many to remember," said Fusako Usuba, a 79-year-old pensioner. "But there's no way around it, because we all need to eat to survive," she added. Japan's wave of price hikes initially began in 2022, triggered by external shocks such as post-pandemic supply chain disruptions, the war in Ukraine and the yen's subsequent depreciation. But economists say it is consumers' greater tolerance for higher prices - underpinned by three straight years of robust wage growth - that has kept the trend going. "Japanese consumers have come to realise they are now living in an era of persistent price increases," said Tsutomu Watanabe, emeritus professor of economics at the University of Tokyo. He said consumers are beginning to shift their focus from low prices to higher wages, as intensifying labour shortages give workers more bargaining power. According to a survey led by Watanabe, Japanese consumers were the most resistant to price hikes among five major countries four years ago, with a majority saying they would switch supermarkets if prices rose by 10%. But in the same survey last year, most said they would continue shopping at the same stores and buying the same items, bringing them in line with consumers in other countries. The key question now is whether the trend is sustainable. Meiji (2269.T), opens new tab, Japan's top chocolate maker, has launched nine price hikes since 2022, reflecting soaring cocoa costs. "Back in 2022, we met resistance from retailers asking us to hold off a bit longer," said Akira Yoshida, general manager at Meiji's cacao marketing division. "Nowadays, they accept our price hikes more smoothly, so we assume their customers are also reluctantly going along." But Meiji, which holds a 25% market share and effectively sets industry prices, is now seeing signs of price fatigue. A 20% price hike in June, the biggest in recent years, led to a more than 20% drop in sales volume at some retailers, unlike in previous rounds where volume declines were smaller than the scale of price hikes. "We're increasingly concerned. There's only so much more we can raise prices," Yoshida said. "I think we'll need to change how people view chocolate - not as a commodity, but as a luxury." Rei Ihara, food sector analyst at UBS Securities, said the scope for further price hikes is narrowing, as Japan's Engel coefficient, the share of household spending on food, hit 28.3% in 2024, the highest in 43 years. "With prices rising year after year, consumers appear to be adjusting their purchasing habits, opting for less expensive options like chicken instead of beef, for example. For inflation to be sustainable, it must be supported by solid wage growth," he said. Inflation has outpaced nominal pay gains, pushing real wage growth into negative territory for months, fuelling frustration among voters that led to a major defeat of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's coalition in recent house elections. The outlook for wage growth is increasingly uncertain due to sweeping U.S. tariffs. Japanese exporters have so far avoided major price hikes in the U.S. to stay competitive, sacrificing profits. If that continues, it could limit their ability to raise wages next year. "We're at a turning point now," professor Watanabe said. "If this wage-driven price momentum fails, we may not see another opportunity like this in our lifetime. This moment is that rare." ($1 = 147.7700 yen)
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Kraft Heinz's Q2 Earnings on Horizon: What Surprise Awaits Investors?
The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC) is likely to register a decline in both the top and bottom lines when it reports second-quarter 2025 earnings on July 30. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $6.3 billion, indicating a 2.9% drop from the prior-year quarter's reported figure. The consensus mark for quarterly earnings has remained unchanged in the past 30 days at 64 cents per share, projecting a decline of 18% from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter. KHC has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.8%, on average. Factors Likely to Impact KHC's Upcoming Results Kraft Heinz has been facing headwinds in its volume performance, which have been exerting pressure on its top-line growth. The company has been grappling with evolving consumer behavior and macro-economic pressures like tariffs and inflation, alongside weakness in the U.S. Away from Home segment. These persistent challenges pose a threat to Kraft Heinz's organic sales, ultimately impacting overall revenues. Our model suggests a 3.2 percentage point year-over-year decline in volume/mix for the second quarter of 2025. As a result, we project a 3.2 percentage point drop in organic net sales during the same period. In addition to weak volume trends, Kraft Heinz has also been dealing with margin pressure. The downside can be attributed to unfavorable volume/mix shifts, rising manufacturing and procurement costs, and unfavorable foreign currency impacts. We expect the company's adjusted gross margin to contract 190 basis points year over year, reaching 33.6% in the second quarter of 2025. Kraft Heinz has been strategically driving growth through effective pricing, operational efficiencies and innovation. Kraft Heinz's Brand Growth System is scaling while expanding in emerging markets. Kraft Heinz Company Price and EPS Surprise Kraft Heinz Company price-eps-surprise | Kraft Heinz Company Quote Earnings Whispers for KHC Stock Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for Kraft Heinz this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chance of an earnings beat. You can uncover the best stocks before they're reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Kraft Heinz currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.31% and a Zacks Rank of 3. More Stocks With the Favorable Combination Here are a few more companies, which according to our model, have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle. Freshpet (FRPT) currently has an Earnings ESP of +40.68% and a Zacks Rank of 3. The company is likely to register growth in the top line when it reports second-quarter 2025 numbers. The consensus mark for revenues is pegged at $267.7 million, which indicates an increase of 13.8% from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Freshpet's quarterly earnings per share of 12 cents implies a sharp rise from the loss per share of three cents reported in the year-ago quarter. The consensus mark has gone down a penny in the past 30 days. FRPT has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 22.3%, on average. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (BUD), alias AB InBev, has an Earnings ESP of +7.06% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. BUD is likely to register a bottom-line decline when it releases second-quarter 2025 results. The consensus estimate for AB InBev's quarterly earnings has risen a couple of cents in the past 30 days to 89 cents per share, implying a drop of 1.1% from the year-ago quarter's number. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues is pegged at $15.3 billion, which implies a drop of 0.5% from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter. BUD delivered an earnings surprise of 10.9%, on average, in the trailing four quarters. Monster Beverage (MNST) currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.37% and a Zacks Rank of 3. The company is expected to register growth in its top and bottom lines when it reports second-quarter 2025 results. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MNST's quarterly earnings has moved down a penny in the last 30 days to 48 cents per share, indicating 17.1% growth from the year-ago quarter's number. The consensus estimate for Monster Beverage's quarterly revenues is pegged at $2.1 billion, implying a rise of 9.4% from the figure in the prior-year quarter. MNST reported a negative earnings surprise of 4.1%, on average, in the trailing four quarters. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Freshpet, Inc. (FRPT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (BUD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST) : Free Stock Analysis Report Kraft Heinz Company (KHC) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
