Nielsen Shopper Trends: Cautious Filipino shoppers increase store visits and decrease basket size

Chart 1 Frequency of grocery shopping 2011 versus 2010

“Following a GDP high in 2010 due to the election, the Philippines economy slowed during 2011,” notes Stuart Jamieson, Managing Director of Nielsen Philippines. “The impact of the global economic crisis coupled with natural disasters both within and outside of the country has caused consumers to be more cautious with their spending, and this is evidenced in the move to more frequent shopping visits but smaller basket sizes.”

Filipinos also increased the frequency of their top-up shopping from an average of once per month in 2010 to almost three times per month in 2011. “Consumers are decreasing their basket size in order to manage their available cash, shopping only as the need arises,” said Jamieson.

Purchase habits during promotion