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The value of China’s emerging middle class - June 2006
Research Topic: Consumer Demand and Demographics

As global companies entered China, many focused mainly on serving China’s urban affluent consumers. However, if they continue this strategy of simply skimming the cream from the top, they risk missing the real opportunity – the emerging middle class.

During the next 20 years, a huge middle class with enormous spending power will emerge in China’s cities. As incomes increase, the spending patterns of this group of consumers will evolve, fueling various levels of growth across consumption categories.

Though the potential benefits are enormous, serving this middle class has unique challenges and companies will need to think creatively to succeed.

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