Is the Western consumer on course for a revival?

GLOBAL

Maria Merricks examines the evidence that, after years of being under the cosh, consumers' disposable income is finally set to start rising again.

To say it has been a tough time for the Western consumer would be an understatement. The sector has been impacted dramatically over the past few years, dampened by a sullied global economic situation ever since the financial crisis of 2008. Developed markets on the whole have been battered by a number of headwinds more recently: the incessant eurozone crisis rumbles on unabated, while talk of a China slowdown and on-going volatility in the Middle East are only adding to market woes. Looking with more focus at the UK and US economies, it is clear to see why consumer confidence in these...