Knowledge hub

Cash is disappearing from daily life across Southeast Asia. In 2019, nearly half of all transactions in Asia were made in cash. By 2027, that figure is expected to fall to just 14 percent, according to the Bank for International Settlements. Mobile wallets—once a convenience—are now overtaking physical currency as the region’s default mode of […]

In 2023, more people moved to Charlotte, North Carolina than to New York City. Once known primarily as a banking hub, Charlotte is now among the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States, with its population increasing by over 15% in the past decade. Its rising appeal is part of a larger pattern: a quiet […]

Marketers may position Generation Alpha as the next big consumer cohort, but the real power behind their spending lies firmly with their Millennial and Gen X parents. From the designer sneakers children wear to the AI-powered math apps they use, it is parents who dictate the purchases—and, by extension, the market trends. For these parents, […]

Thailand is embarking on a bold economic initiative that intertwines fiscal stimulus with digital innovation. The government has launched a digital wallet scheme, providing eligible citizens a one-time payment of ฿10,000 (approximately USD 275). This initiative aims to invigorate local economies and accelerate the nation’s transition to a cashless society. The program is being rolled […]

Jollibee is rewriting the rules of global fast food. After a strong financial year, the Filipino fast-food giant is entering 2025 with around USD 364 million earmarked to open as many as 800 new stores worldwide. That would push Jollibee’s total store count past 10,000, a staggering figure for a homegrown chain once dismissed as […]

Conducting online research in China is unlike anywhere else in the world. With over 1.1 billion internet users in 2024, China accounts for over a fifth of the global online population. Nearly all of them, over 99%, access the internet via smartphones, making mobile-first behavior not just common but standard. Researchers won’t find Google, Facebook, […]

The next wave of edtech growth isn’t being engineered in boardrooms or classrooms. It’s unfolding in bedrooms, dorm halls, and digital chat groups – where students turn smartphones into production studios and learning platforms into launchpads. Armed with ring lights and revision hacks, Gen Z creators are transforming how education is marketed, consumed, and experienced. […]

You’re watching a livestream. A pair of sneakers flash on screen, not as a hard sell, but as part of the host’s outfit. Before the segment ends, you’ve clicked, carted, and checked out, without ever intending to shop. This is ambient shopping. In 2025, 69% of consumers report making purchases while doing something else: scrolling […]

Rising inflation and economic uncertainty were expected to put an end to discretionary spending for middle-income households. Instead, consumers are making room for indulgence. Across the US, UK, and Europe, households earning moderate incomes continue to prioritize non-essential purchases at rates far closer to affluent consumers than economic models predicted. McKinsey’s 2024 Global Consumer Sentiment […]

Across the world’s fastest-growing consumer markets, one force is reshaping purchasing behavior, product design, and service delivery: women. From Jakarta to Los Angeles, women are no longer a niche segment—they’re central to growth itself. In the US and UK, they already influence over three-quarters of consumer spending. In Asia, their economic clout is rising even […]