Font Size
M
L
menu

Consumer-related socioeconomic situation

Part 1 : Today's consumer issues and consumers' behavior/attitude
Chapter 2 : Consumer-related socioeconomic situation and consumers' behavior/attitude
Section 1 : Consumer-related socioeconomic situation

There was an increase in the prices of most of daily necessities in 2015

  • Out of the 25 products that are monitored for commodity prices, the number of products whose prices increased from the previous month exceeded that of products whose prices dropped, for 10 months in a row from April 2015.

Figure2-1-15 The number of products whose prices increased and the number of products whose prices dropped (compared with the previous survey results and the values in the previous month)

The increase in commodity prices in the coming 1 year estimated by monitoring staff is declining

  • The weighted average of the increase/decrease in commodity prices in the coming 1 year estimated by monitoring staff was 2.3% in December 2014, in which the survey began, and 1.5% in the recent research. It is declining.

Figure2-1-19 Rate of expected inflation in the coming 1 year forecasted by consumers

Distribution of smartphones progresses

  • Smartphones have become more widespread, and 44.7% owned a smartphone as of the end of 2014.
  • In the age range from 13 to 30 years, over 70% own a smartphone. The ratio of those who have a smartphone in their 50s increased by 9.1% and the ratio for the 60s grew by 5.2% compared with the previous year. Namely, middle-aged people, too, own a smartphone increasingly.

Figure2-1-24 Ratio of people who have a mobile phone for each age group