Filipinos spent less at sari-sari stores in 2024, study says
A typical sari-sari store in the Philippines, where consumers are increasingly opting for smaller, more frequent purchases amid rising cost of living. Photo from Packworks
MANILA, Philippines – Average monthly spending at sari-sari stores continued its decline in 2024, as consumers increasingly opted for smaller, more frequent purchases to stretch their limited disposable income, according to a study.
A report released on Monday by local tech startup Packworks showed that average monthly spending by Filipinos at sari-sari stores fell to P689 each, based on insights from its micro-retail analytics platform Sari IQ.
This represents an 11.8-percent drop from the P781 average in 2023, which had already decreased from P800 in 2022.
READ: ‘Sari-sari’ stores see brisk energy drink, iced tea sales
Packworks Chief Data Officer Andoy Montiel said the trend points to a growing shift toward the “tingi” style of purchasing where consumers buy smaller quantities more frequently as a strategy to manage limited budgets.
“The combination of Filipinos’ smaller basket sizes and more frequent visits to sari-sari stores points to a preference for buying in smaller, more affordable portions – the essence of the ‘tingi’ economy,” Montiel said.
“This behavior likely stems from consumers needing to stretch their budget further, even in a lower inflation environment. They might be opting to buy only what they immediately need, rather than larger quantities less frequently to stock-up,” he added.
Packworks’ data also revealed that while average spending by Filipinos decreased, their visits to sari-sari stores became more frequent.
Last year, its network of stores recorded an average of 18 transactions per month nationwide, reflecting a 16-percent increase from 15 transactions per month in 2023.
The most commonly purchased items in Filipino sari-sari stores were seasoning and recipe mixes, detergent, powdered drinks, and hygiene products like shampoo and conditioner.
