Cautious spending seen benefiting sari-sari stores

FILIPINO consumers are increasingly turning to sari-sari stores for everyday necessities as persistent cost pressures force households to stretch their budgets. “We expect further down-trading in coming months, amid tighter household budgets,” Maybank Research said in a commentary on Thursday. Down-trading refers to consumers shifting toward lower-cost products, smaller package sizes or more affordable retail channels as they manage limited disposable income. Purchasing patterns in s