Beyond Trends: Eight Consumer Economies of the Future
By 2035, profound global changes and societal shifts will open up exciting opportunities while presenting new challenges for businesses.
Trend or fleeting fad?
For decades, businesses have wrestled with a familiar question: is this the next big trend or just a passing craze? From the Atkins diet to on-the-go snacks, flavored lattes, and social media, consumer behavior has been shaped by countless shifts over the years. Some have stuck, while others faded almost as quickly as they appeared.
Companies are often quick to analyze these trends in the short term, but predicting longer-term shifts is a different challenge altogether. It requires more than just understanding current spending habits—it means looking deeper into how people live, work, travel, and care for themselves and others. It also demands a broader view of the forces shaping society, from demographic and economic shifts to climate change and global instability. Together, these factors will define how people consume in the future and reveal unmet needs that businesses can address.
To prepare for what’s ahead, it’s important to take a more holistic approach – one that connects insights into individual behavior with broader societal trends. This combined perspective points to several key areas where new opportunities and challenges are likely to emerge. Let’s explore these “future consumer economies.”
- The Moving Economy
As people relocate more frequently – whether across cities, countries, or continents—driven by factors like climate change, economic pressures, or lifestyle choices, consumption patterns will shift. Businesses will need to adapt to changing demands, redesign their distribution networks, and offer products that reflect a mix of cultures and traditions. At the same time, growing inequality may require companies to design solutions that address the diverse needs of both wealthier and less privileged groups living side by side.
- The Evolving Family Economy
Traditional family structures are changing. Single-person households, blended families, multigenerational living, and even “chosen families” are becoming more common. Businesses will need to rethink their offerings to suit these diverse family dynamics – whether that means creating single-portion products, flexible housing options, or fostering new traditions that bring people together in new ways.
- The Silver Generation Economy
In the next 25 years, the number of people aged 60 and above is expected to double. This group won’t be a monolith – some will continue to work, travel, and enjoy active lifestyles, while others will need more care and support. Beyond addressing traditional aging needs, businesses can play a role in helping people redefine their purpose, navigate multigenerational caregiving, or even prepare for the uncertainties of living longer, healthier lives.
- The Sustainable Economy
As environmental awareness grows, people will seek more sustainable ways to consume. Many will embrace reducing waste, reusing items, and finding alternatives to traditional consumption. Companies will need to move beyond old business models, exploring ideas like neighborhood sharing, community gardens, and services focused on repair and recycling. Success will be measured not just in profits but in how businesses contribute to a greener future.
- The Automation Economy
With time becoming a precious resource, many people are looking for ways to automate daily chores and repetitive tasks. Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence will help free up time for more meaningful activities. Businesses that focus on convenience and efficiency, while fostering a balance between technology and human connection, will thrive in this space.
- The Creator Economy
Today’s consumers have the tools and platforms to become creators in their own right – whether through small businesses, freelance work, or innovative products. This shift challenges traditional business models, but it also creates opportunities. Companies that embrace this wave of consumer entrepreneurship can integrate these creators into their supply chains, empowering them to contribute while benefiting from their creativity.
- The Wellness Economy
The concept of health is expanding to include mental, emotional, and even social well-being. People want to live longer, healthier lives and will increasingly look for tools and services to help them achieve that. Businesses can play a critical role in democratizing access to these solutions, supporting holistic health goals for everyone.
- The Connection Economy
Despite living in an age of digital connection, many people feel more isolated than ever. Loneliness is becoming a growing issue, affecting people of all ages. Businesses and organizations have an opportunity to bridge this gap by creating spaces, products, and services that bring people together and foster genuine connections.
Looking Beyond Profit
These emerging economies won’t exist in isolation – they’ll overlap and intersect, creating complex new consumer needs. For example, what happens when the “evolving family” economy meets the “silver generation” economy, as people live longer but often in smaller or more fragmented households?
While these shifts offer clear opportunities for growth, they also carry a responsibility. Businesses have a chance to shape the future in ways that benefit society as a whole – by addressing unmet needs, minimizing harm, and using their reach and expertise to build a better, more inclusive world.
