The retail outlook for 2025 is worse than previously anticipated. However, many smaller emerging markets are still in line for strong years, and ecommerce continues to claw share from traditional retail.
Internet adoption in Asia-Pacific will rise from 65.8% in 2025 to 70.2% in 2030, thanks to rapidly expanding infrastructure鈥攑articularly in the Philippines, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. But parts of the region are still lagging.
The hikes range from 29% to 45% in Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand and face strong customer reprisal. The change is particularly relevant in Australia, where Microsoft 365 Personal yearly subscriptions jumped to AUD159 from AUD109 (to $105 from $72). The company said price changes would not affect business or enterprise customers.
Our expanded retail and ecommerce forecast coverage now includes country-level breakouts for 66 nations around the world. North America, China, and Western Europe continue to drive global outcomes, but a total of 53 countries will have at least $1 billion in ecommerce sales.