Recent global and political unrest have intensified the challenges faced by Filipinos, adding pressure on how households view their socio-economic and financial outlook in the next 12 months. This is based on data from our Shopperscope 2026 report, which looked at the sentiments and behaviors of Filipino shoppers and its impact to their day-to-day lives.
We surveyed Filipino households from January 2026 to March 2026, or the pre-Middle East conflict, and in April 2026, or the onset of the Middle East conflict, to decode shopper behavior and provide a clearer picture of how Filipinos perceive their financial situation during this period.
Shopperscope 2026 reveals that Filipinos feel that both their financial and socio-economic outlook ‘will worsen’ in the next 12-month period. Moreover, the report notes that, with such an outlook in mind, more Filipinos identify with ‘just making ends meet’ and ‘not being able to cover expenses’ for their families.
Our data shows that Filipinos are slipping back into financial constraints after experiencing signs of improvement in 2025. Although the direct impact may vary, Filipino households are feeling intensified pressure by ongoing global challenges.
Different shopper realities, different tipping points
Shopperscope 2026 assesses Filipino households in three distinct groups based on their shopper realities: Comfortable are those who have more resources to afford most things; Managing are able to hold their finances steady at breakeven; and Struggling are almost always short on money.
Obana explains that not every household has the same room to adjust during these challenging times.
As pressure builds up, different households may find themselves being pushed to their tipping points. Filipinos who are struggling may find themselves in a deeper deficit. Those who are managing to get by may eventually fall short. Those who are used to living with a buffer mindset may see their surplus drop.
More value from retail channels
Current disruptions and a tightening market have resulted to a zero-percent growth in the local FMCG industry from March 2026 to May 2026 compared to the same period a year ago. To save and get the most out of their money, Filipino shoppers are seeking cheaper products, looking for promotions and discounts, and are buying smaller baskets.
We also observed that Filipinos spend the most for specific categories in different channels. Frozen meats and non-sweet snacks are bought the most from discounter stores, while baby diapers top online channel purchases. Spend is also in double-digit growth for snacks like ice cream and bread across convenience stores in the country.
Retailers can no longer rely on old habits in to attract shoppers. It is important to understand how and why Filipinos choose where they buy their essentials. While proximity is key, shoppers also place important considerations on completeness of assortment or product range as well as value delivery in these trying times.
Laurice Obana
Shopper Insights Director at Worldpanel by Numerator.
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