Across the global economy in 2025, interest rates around the world are telling very different stories. In Russia, businesses face a 14.5 percent real interest rate, a signal of a tight monetary tightening. In contrast, Japan’s negative 2.1 percent rate reflects years of effort to spark demand
In 2021, Dunzo was the face of convenience in India promising deliveries in under 15 minutes and redefining last-mile logistics. Backed by Google and Reliance, it embodied the promise of quick commerce: speed, convenience, and scale. By early 2025, the same company was collapsing under the weight of unpaid employees,
Last month, U.S. retail sales rose by 1.4 percent, with a 4.2 percent increase year-over-year. At first glance, these numbers might signal strong consumer confidence. But a closer look reveals a more urgent and complex story, one driven by anxiety rather than optimism. Consumers are not spending
Unpacking the financial, strategic, and market implications of training large-scale AI models In recent years, the cost of training large-scale AI models has surged, signaling a dramatic shift in the AI landscape. Google's Gemini 1.0 Ultra model cost $192 million to develop, reflecting the increasing financial barriers
In the corridors of global pharma strategy meetings, one country’s name keeps surfacing: India. And with good reason. By the end of 2025, India’s pharmaceutical industry is expected to reach $65 billion, up from $32 billion just five years ago. This is not a routine growth trajectory. It
Vietnam, once celebrated as a rising manufacturing powerhouse in the wake of U.S.-China trade tensions, now faces mounting uncertainty. At the heart of the issue is a proposed 46% U.S. tariff on Vietnamese exports part of a broader push to address perceived trade imbalances and crack down
The U.S. has long allowed packages valued under $800 to enter the country free of tariffs through the de minimis exemption which was a critical advantage for platforms such as Shein and Temu. This exemption facilitated a wave of ultra-affordable imports, reshaping how American consumers engage with fashion. With
India is quietly rewriting the economics of ride-hailing, and the rest of the world should be paying attention. While platforms like Uber and Lyft have traditionally relied on commission-based models, where drivers give up a percentage of each fare, the dynamics in India are forcing a rethink. In response to
In Argentina, the electric vehicle (EV) market is undergoing a quiet transformation with far-reaching implications. A recent government decision to slash import tariffs on electric and hybrid vehicles has not only opened the gates for foreign competition, it has revealed a deeper, more strategic shift in consumer behavior and global
Recent growth in China's artificial intelligence (AI) sector demonstrates a notable resilience and adaptability in response to international restrictions on advanced AI chips. Despite facing limitations on access to high-end semiconductors, Chinese companies have accelerated domestic innovation and diversified their strategies to sustain AI development. In the first
Over the past year, global markets have been walking a tight rope. Inflationary pressures, tightening monetary policy, and persistent geopolitical instability from the war in Ukraine to fragile supply chains have created an uneasy investment climate. This already fragile environment was further destabilized by the latest round of U.S.
Retailers are increasingly focusing on expanding their private label offerings as inflation influences consumer spending patterns. Nearly 60% of retailers are enhancing products for private labels, transforming what was once considered a budget option into a strategic business initiative. This shift not only helps in reducing costs but also fosters
As the U.S. government pushes forward with legislation that could lead to a nationwide ban of TikTok unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells off the platform, the global business community is watching one of the most important business deals of the decade unfold right now. With TikTok’s
The retail analytics market is projected to explode from $7.56 billion in 2023 to a staggering $31.08 billion by 2032. This isn’t just a trend—it’s a strategic transformation. Retailers across the globe are trading guesswork for foresight, using predictive analytics to steer smarter, faster, and
A Market Shake-Up in 2025 The first quarter of 2025 has upended long-standing market trends, sending shockwaves through global economies. The once-dominant U.S. stock market has stumbled. The S&P 500 tumbled 4.6%, its worst performance since 2022, while European stocks soared. The Stoxx 600 outperformed the
Artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing at an unprecedented pace, but behind the scenes, a crucial factor is emerging energy. To power AI’s growing demand, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund ADQ has launched a $25 billion partnership with U.S.-based Energy Capital Partners. This investment will develop 25
When the world’s largest retailer signals caution, the global economy pays attention. Walmart’s latest forecast projects only 3-4% sales growth for the year, a sharp decline from last year’s 5.1% growth. The impact was immediate: Walmart’s stock dropped 6%, the Dow Jones fell 1%, and
A shift is happening in consumer behavior, and the numbers don’t lie. Shoppers are tightening their wallets, cutting back on non-essentials, and prioritizing value like never before. Apparel spending is down 12% year-over-year, luxury in-store purchases have dropped 9.3%, and even grocery shopping patterns are shifting consumers are
Apple TV+ is projected to lose $1-2 billion annually, yet the tech giant continues to invest $5+ billion per year in premium content. With 45 million subscribers and capturing less than 1% of monthly TV viewership, Apple TV+ appears to be trailing behind streaming titans like Netflix (260M+ subscribers) and
February’s retail sales report may suggest a slowdown, with sales increasing by just 0.2%—well below the expected 0.6%. January’s numbers were even more concerning, showing a 1.2% decline, the sharpest drop in over three years. However, these figures do not indicate that consumers are
Business
The e-commerce boom has permanently reshaped consumer expectations around delivery speed, convenience and sustainability. As online shopping becomes the norm across categories, brands are racing to future-proof their last-mile logistics strategies. Failure to provide affordable, rapid fulfilment and sustainable delivery options risks customer churn and brand erosion. Our latest global
Business
Amid the increasing fracturing of traditional media channels, declining trust in institutions and advertising, and the deprecation of third-party data, brands are at an inflexion point for establishing relevance and direct relationships with consumers globally. In our latest global market study surveying over 15,000 consumers across nearly 20 countries,
Business
For decades, the standard narrative around emerging markets framed consumers in these regions as cost-conscious and primarily driven by economic necessity when making purchases. However, research from Rwazi's on-the-ground consumer intelligence networks reveals surprising data disproving this simplistic assumption. Through ethnographic studies, digital anthropologies and hyper-local surveys conducted
Business
The metaverse may seem like a far-off futuristic concept, but understanding this convergence of physical and virtual worlds is quickly becoming necessary for leading consumer brands. With projections that metaverse experiences could unlock $800 billion in commerce by 2024, the need for robust consumer insights around this channel is only