Thought Leadership
Stay informed with expert insights, data-driven trends, and fresh perspectives shaping global markets. From in-depth analysis to actionable ideas - our thinking on what comes next for the world consumer.
200+
Published essays & briefings
40+
Contributing analysts
190+
Countries in scope
12
Consumer categories
Our analysts are cited in
Our thought leadership
From long-form analysis to short, quotable ideas, our team turns proprietary projections into a running commentary on the global consumer. Dive in - and if something sparks a question about your market, our analysts are one message away.
Talk to an analystWhat we write about
How much the world will spend, by whom, in which city - from now to 2040.
Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z and Alpha - quantified across 190+ countries.
Beauty, Food, Health, Housing and more - where growth actually comes from.
Behind the models: how we combine survey, census, and expenditure data.
Editor's pick
Featured · BlogJul 20, 2026· 6 min read
Emerging markets will add ~1 billion digital consumers over the next decade. See how Pix hit 95% adoption and where payments innovation is heading next.
Recent thinking
BlogJul 01, 2026· 6 min read
Explore the silver economy, a $19 trillion market for consumers aged 60 and over, projected to reach $34 trillion by 2036. Discover key trends and insights.
BlogJun 15, 2026· 6 min read
The 48 nations at the 2026 World Cup account for $48.3 trillion in consumer spending - 49.2% of the global total. See how economy compares to squad value.
BlogJun 03, 2026· 6 min read
The world will add 113M new consumers and $2.9T in spending in 2026 despite the oil shock. See World Data Lab's scenarios, the countries gaining and losing, and who a severe shock hits hardest.
BlogApr 29, 2026· 8 min read
The global beauty market will hit $1 trillion by 2035. See how affluent vs. core spenders are reshaping luxury and mass market, and where the growth is.
BlogApr 03, 2026· 2 min read
World Data Lab announces the appointment of Thomas Bauer as General Manager Private & Chief Commercial Officer, bringing extensive expertise in data-driven marketing.
BlogMar 16, 2026· 4 min read
Homi Kharas predicted the global middle class would grow from 1.85B to 3.25B by 2020. The actual figure was 3.4B. Here's how the forecast was made - and what's next.
Signal, not noise
One email a month. New forecasts, a chart worth stealing, and the essay everyone in your category will be quoting.
Our analysts turn proprietary World Data Intelligence into answers for the categories, cities, and cohorts you care about.
