Interesting article from Inside Retailing this week concerning the impact of China’s emerging middle class. In fact they have already emerged and are predicted to outnumber the whole of the US population by 2015.The impact on world commodity prices will be significant as China’s factory production is internalised to meet local demand (a process that has already started). Local demand is expected to be large enough to cause a shortage (and a price rise) in some categories across the world. The days of super-cheap electronic goods may be short lived.
Kinda reminds you why many of us were attracted to retailing in the first place – you simply can’t predict what’s coming up next – satisfies our inner gambler and keeps us on our toes.