Shopping in the 80s vs. today: this is how mass consumption has changed in 4 decades

From allocating 28% of their income to food to reducing it to 15%; from dining out to shopping at the supermarket; and from buying only in stores to having AI recommend where to stock the fridge: the consumer goods sector has evolved at the dizzying pace of Spanish society and the economy over 40 years. This Wednesday, the Aecoc Consumer Goods Congress kicks off in Valencia, a key event that for 40 years has brought together company executives to analyze trends and challenges of a sector that accounts for 25% of GDP and provides employment to 450,000 people. Throughout its history, the Aecoc congress has reflected the evolution of its companies in line with external events but, above all, it has focused on its main daily challenge: satisfying the consumer. When this meeting was born, 55% of the 37 million Spaniards were under 35 years old, only 35% of women worked, and there was a 40% youth unemployment rate, which directly impacted the way people bought and consumed. Now, with an ...