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<ul><li>FMCG giant HUL’s shares reported a decline of over 6% on Thursday.</li><li>This comes a day after the company reported a 2.33% decline in consolidated net profit in Q2.</li><li>The stock tanked 6.59% to ₹2,483.95 on the NSE.</li></ul>Shares of FMCG major <keyword id="20002610" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hindustan-Unilever" source="keywords">Hindustan Unilever</keyword> Ltd (HUL) on Thursday tumbled over 6% after the firm reported a 2.33% decline in consolidated net profit for the second quarter ended in September. The stock tanked 6.59% to ₹2,483.95 on the NSE. The stock emerged as the biggest laggard among the Sensex and Nifty firms during the morning trade. Hindustan Unilever Ltd on Wednesday reported a 2.33% decline in consolidated net profit at ₹2,595 crore for the second quarter ended in September 2024, impacted by moderation in demand from the urban market. The company had logged a net profit of ₹2,657 crore in the July-September quarter a year ago, HUL said in a regulatory filing. However, revenue from product sales was up 2.36% at ₹15,703 crore in the September quarter, from ₹15,340 crore in the year-ago period, HUL which owns power brands such as Surf, Rin, Lux, Pond's, Lifebuoy, Lakme, Brooke Bond, Lipton and Horlicks said. "In the September quarter, <keyword id="21419477" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="FMCG-demand" source="keywords">FMCG demand</keyword> witnessed moderating growth in urban markets, while rural continued to recover gradually. In this context, we delivered a competitive and profitable performance," HUL CEO and Managing Director Rohit Jawa said. HUL reported an underlying sales growth of 2% and underlying volume growth of 3%. Total expenses were at ₹12,581 crore in the September quarter, up 3.03% year-on-year. HUL's total income, which includes other income, was up 2.14% to ₹16,145 crore in the September quarter of FY25. Addressing an earnings call, HUL CFO Ritesh Tiwari said, "Two thirds of our business we do in urban areas, and one-third we do in rural areas … we are seeing growth in the urban market moderating. We are seeing rural growth recovery is gradual … it impacts all the categories that we have." On the outlook, he said, "In the near term, we expect demand trends to be stable with no further acceleration in pace of growth." In this context, Tiwari said, "Our focus remains on driving competitive volume-led growth, while continuing investments behind our brands and strategy priorities … If commodity prices remain where they are, we expect a low single digit price growth in the near-term." With inputs from PTI. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/afcons-infrastructure-ipo-gmp-risk-factors-and-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/114490954.cms">Afcons Infrastructure IPO – GMP, risk factors and all you need to know</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/upi-refund-scam-to-digital-arrest-scam-here-are-most-common-online-scams-in-india/articleshow/114428011.cms">UPI refund to digital arrest scam, here are some online scams you need to be aware of</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/waaree-energies-ipo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-ipo-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/114508632.cms">Waaree Energies IPO allotment – How to check allotment, IPO GMP, listing date and more</a>

Hindustan Unilever shares tumble over 6% post Q2 results

Economists at the country's largest lender, SBI, today said they see India's Q2 real GDP growth slowing down further to 6.5% in the September quarter of this fiscal year. Amid concerns over the country's economic growth rate and whether it is slowing down, the analysts said they expect FY25 growth to come "closer to" 7%. SBI analysts join a long line of agencies like Fitch, ADB, IMF, Moody, World Bank, S&amp;P, and even RBI in forecasting India's GDP growth for FY25 in the range of 6.8% to 7.2% for FY25, driven by robust consumption and investment. SIP inflows have been at an all-time high, and so has QIP (qualified institutional placement) fundraising. As many as 71 companies raised Rs 88,678 crore this year through QIPs. Activity in Indian primary markets also remained robust, with 78 mainboard IPOs in 2024; this is a 111% rise from just 38 listings in FY23. Between April and June 2024, India's real GDP grew by 6.7%, the lowest growth seen in 15 quarters, pushing experts to believe that India is caught in a cycle of slowdown. "There is some incipient pressure evident on the domestic economy. Based on our analysis of 50 meaningful leading indicators (both consumption and demand-centric), a dip looks plausible across select cohorts of agriculture, industry, and services in Q2," the <keyword id="22337294" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SBI-economists" source="keywords">SBI economists</keyword> added. Stating that they track 50 indicators to gauge economic activity, SBIs note said the proportion of indicators showing acceleration declined to 69% in Q2 FY25, as against 80% in Q2 FY24 and 78% in Q1 FY25. However, things might be changing now, given that rural demand has started looking up amidst muted urban demand. SBI also explained that the ongoing regulatory tightening on unsecured lending and roadblocks that are hindering rollover/refinancing of debt through unsecured credit are dismantling the unwarranted exuberance that had built up post-pandemic, especially in the urban areas. Madhu Lunawat, CIO &amp; Fund Manager, Bharat Value Fund states that the overall investment environment remains strong due to favorable economic conditions supporting government policies &amp; reforms. "The sustainable inflow from domestic investors is going to support the Indian equity market in any kind of correction. The long-term bullish structure of Indian economy will continue to attract new domestic &amp; global investors to participate in India’s growth story through various Investment avenues.” <h2>Rate cuts not on cards</h2>RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das clarified today that changing the monetary policy stance to 'neutral' does not mean a rate cut is imminent in the central bank's next policy announcement. Notably, RBI MPC is set to meet between December 4 and 6, 2024, to decide if the prevailing repo rate of 6.5%, which has stayed unchanged for the last 2 years, should be brought down or not. In its last meeting, The <keyword id="20501100" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI-monetary-policy" source="keywords">RBI monetary policy</keyword> committee had shifted its stance to 'neutral' indicating that it is open to adjusting interest rates based on economic conditions. "It should not be assumed that we have done this, so therefore the next step is a rate cut. A change in stance doesn't mean that the next step is a rate cut in the very next meeting. It's not so," Das said. Das also cautioned that inflation remains a key factor, and inflation and CPI prints for October are expected to stay high.

SBI economists see Q2 GDP growth slowing down to 6.5%; FY25 growth to be closer to 7%

New Delhi: The <keyword id="20072894" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rural-economy" source="keywords">Rural economy</keyword> of <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> has emerged as a significant driver of <keyword id="19900794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-growth" source="keywords">economic growth</keyword>, outpacing urban areas largely due to increased <keyword id="20155204" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="government-spending" source="keywords">government spending</keyword> in the recent quarters, highlighted a report by <keyword id="20548750" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Anand-Rathi" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Anand Rathi" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Anand Rathi">Anand Rathi</keyword>, a financial service company. "<keyword id="20109648" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rural-india" source="keywords">Rural India</keyword> continues to outpace urban areas in growth, largely due to a significant rise in government spending in rural regions in the last quarter," said the report. For the coming months, the report stated that the growth trend in the rural economy is expected to continue, although a moderation in growth may occur. It also added that the favourable monsoon conditions and improved sowing data are anticipated to sustain the upward trajectory in <keyword id="19931574" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rural-demand" source="keywords">rural demand</keyword>, providing a buffer against potential economic uncertainties. "We expect this growth to moderate following the elections, favourable monsoon conditions and improved sowing data should sustain the upward trend in rural demand". The report also highlighted that the government's ambitious capital expenditure plans, amounting to Rs 11.1 trillion, are expected to stimulate infrastructure development, further enhancing rural economic prospects The rural economy plays a crucial role in the development of the country because a majority of the population still resides in rural areas. As per the Economic Survey of 2022-2023 around 65 per cent of India's population lived in rural areas in 2021. The report also highlighted that India stands out among emerging economies due to its strong GDP growth. Last year, India grew by more than 8 per cent, and the <keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="RBI" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="RBI">RBI</keyword> expects a 7.2 per cent growth rate for FY25. The financial outlook is positive, with efforts to cut the fiscal deficit to 4.5 per cent. The report also noted that India's credit rating may improve because of the strong tax revenue and a large dividend from the RBI which will lead to a lower fiscal deficit than expected. "The fiscal outlook appears promising, with continued focus on reducing the fiscal deficit toward the 4.5 per cent target. Strong tax collections and a substantial RBI dividend may enable the fiscal deficit to come in lower than expected, which could potentially lead to an improved sovereign rating" said the report.

Rural economy is driving India's growth, Govt capex in infra will stimulate it: Anand Rathi report

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Younger Americans are moving to rural areas, reshaping demographics and economies.</li><li>Census data shows a shift from cities to rural areas for people ages 25 to 44 since 2020.</li></ul>America's younger workers don't want to be city slickers anymore. Instead, they're heading to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/we-moved-somewhere-rural-more-peaceful-life-and-had-problems-2023-12">rural areas.</a>Communities with under 250,000 residents have seen a growing influx of Gen Z and millennial movers. About 63% of counties classified as rural or in small metros had increases in this age demographic between 2020 and 2023 — compared to 27% between 2010 and 2013, based on an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.coopercenter.org/research/young-adults-fuel-revival-small-towns-rural-areas">analysis</a> by Hamilton Lombard, a demographer at the University of Virginia.In particular, young people are flocking to rural communities in the Colorado <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/most-important-vc-investors-rocky-mountains-colorado-utah-montana-wyoming-2023-8">Rockies</a>, Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains, and Montana's lakes, drawn by new work opportunities and the appeal of living surrounded by nature, Lombard's analysis showed.This map shows the percentage change in every US county for those aged 25 to 24 between 2020 and 2023. Many of the biggest gainers are rural and exurban areas in the South and Mountain West.The top 10 counties with the highest net percent increase between 2020 and 2023 of those aged 25 to 44 were all either rural or in metro areas with fewer than 250,000 residents.On the other hand, cities have seen stagnant or declining populations among the 25-44 age group. Of the 10 most populous US counties, five had declines, while two stayed the same. Los Angeles County had a 4% net loss in this demographic, while Kings County — or Brooklyn — lost 8%.Lombard said there's been a surge of young people moving to South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee, oftentimes for work. He also said young people are moving back to the Flint, Michigan, area after many moved out amid the water crisis."In Knoxville's case, some of that has to do with the return to nuclear power; that's where Oak Ridge was, and there's still a large nuclear industry," Lombard said. "In Huntsville, aerospace is taking off. There's huge battery technology going in along I-85 going from Atlanta up toward Spartansburg."Indeed, the "Battery Belt" in the South has seen <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/south-korea-companies-jobs-manufacturing-evs-chips-batteries-2024-9">billions in manufacturing investments</a> pouring in, including from South Korean firms looking to build up their own production infrastructure. A study from strategic communications firm Climate Power <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://climatepower.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Clean-Energy-Boom-300K-Paper.pdf">found</a> that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/georgia-electric-vehicle-battery-manufacturing-inflation-reduction-act-clean-energy-2024-9">Georgia</a> has added over 30,500 jobs since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.Lombard said, citing IRS data, that new business applications rose 13% faster in rural counties and small metro areas than in larger urban areas.<h2 id="cbea701b-e35b-4e2a-aa3e-0ea9b316c336">In the 2010s, young people flocked to cities. Now they're leaving.</h2>In the 2010s, Lombard said the US experienced the highest rate in over half a century of young adults leaving rural counties and small metro areas to move to large metro areas.However, starting in 2017 — and accelerating in the first few years of the 2020s — younger people have <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-away-big-city-bad-career-job-market-suburbs-2024-4">shifted</a> toward moving to small towns and rural areas. Since 2020, rural areas and smaller cities have attracted those 25 to 44 at the highest rate in almost a century, Lombard found. Even with many companies pushing for mandatory return-to-office policies, younger Americans continued <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-from-nyc-to-rural-vermont-heres-what-its-like-2021-4">moving to rural communities</a> in 2023 at an accelerated pace.All of these shifts come as the economy more broadly moves South. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wealthy-leaving-california-new-york-moving-florida-texas-reasons-effects-2024-8">Southern states have already lured in wealthier residents</a>, and population growth has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-economy-us-south-texas-florida-houston-dallas-nashville-miami-2023-12">boomed there</a> — as has the region's economy. But the new data shows that while younger Americans might more broadly be moving South, it's not just to urban strongholds; there could also be a bonafide rural boom.While Lombard acknowledged an influx of young people could drive prices up, he said many of these communities have experienced shrinking workforces and are thankful to have workers alleviate some shortages."It is tough if you don't own your home, and you have lots of people coming in and your rents go up," Lombard said. "Sometimes people have to move further out to be able to afford that. But overall, when you look at this trend, a lot of rural counties think it's something that's largely welcome, unless there's a massive flood coming in."Are you a younger worker who moved into a rural area? Contact these reporters at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:nsheidlower@businessinsider.com">nsheidlower@businessinsider.com</a> and <a target="_blank" href="mailto:jkaplan@businessinsider.com">jkaplan@businessinsider.com</a>.

This map shows the rural places where young Americans are moving

<ul><li>Inflation has been eating into the purchasing power of lower and middle income groups with many essentials’ sales falling.</li><li>Majority of the upper and upper middle class respondents saw their household incomes go up more than inflation.</li><li>There is a dichotomy seen in online festive sales too as premium products are bought with discounts and purchase options say experts. </li></ul>There are two Indias within the great sub-continent. One where the day-breaking drink of tea has become dearer for many this year and the other half is doubling down on wine purchases. Neither of them are affected by the base effect of last year. <keyword id="2653343" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tea-sales" source="Orion">Tea sales</keyword> were down last year too, and <keyword id="806378" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="wine-sales" source="Orion">wine sales</keyword> were up — darkening the ‘K’ line on economic recovery charts. Madan Sabnavis, the chief economist of Bank of Baroda calls it a schizophrenic pattern of consumption. “Sales are doing better in categories where price does not matter,” he tells Business Insider India. <div type="image" title="grocery demand" msid="104810160" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Source: Pixabay &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> It’s discretion not price The categories of goods where price matters are seeing low growth in output – a reflection of demand. Some of the casualties are detergent powders, groundnut oils, shampoos and hair dyes. Their output fell between April to August 2023, compared to the year before, as per BoB economics research. Inflation has a more indirect effect on these purchases. For example, tea and shampoo saw moderate inflation but their demand fell. Inflation was high in coffee, toothpaste and soaps but their demand grew. “The generalized inflation factor has been at work where real income has come down thus leading to lower purchasing power,” said BoB. In a survey conducted by UBS, about 46% of respondents said that they’re buying less personal care and packaged food compared to last year. For purchase of home care products, the respondents were largely neutral versus last year, it added. India’s largest FMCG player Hindustan Unilever with a large presence across rural and urban India has seen a direct impact of it in the quarter that ended in September 2023. Its overall urban volumes grew 3% and rural volumes fell 1%. “Rural recovery is likely to remain gradual,” the company said in its investor presentation indicating that the situation might not see any dramatic recovery in the coming months. Rural India saw reverse migration during the pandemic, but not all of them have gone back, opines Sabnavis. A chunk of downtrading is also being seen in urban areas amongst income groups that are facing the heat of inflation, experts add. At the other end This is, however, only one half of the story. At the other end, many Indians are not blinking while making discretionary purchases. A majority of the upper and middle class respondents – 65% – surveyed by UBS, saw their household incomes go up more than inflation. “The top 20% of the population account for the bulk of discretionary consumption. The survey results support our view that affluent consumers‘ income levels are holding up, as reflected in corporate wage growth that continues at double digits,” said UBS. Lalit Jhawar, co-founder and CEO, LandCraft Retail says that high-end gourmet products in urban areas have been steadily increasing over the last few years. He owns a luxury gourmet retails store- Food Square in Mumbai, which sells cheeses, truffles, caviar, artisanal breads and all the other international food items. “Affluence in urban areas has grown, resulting in a larger number of consumers with higher discretionary income,” Jhawar tells Business Insider India. Online sales: A story of dichotomy Another sign of higher spending is seen in the e-commerce festival sales. The first week of the many festival discount sales saw ₹47,000 crore worth of goods being sold, which is 19% higher than last year, says Redseer Consulting. Online sales, which now sees a good measure of metro and demand from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, is showing a dichotomy as well, say experts. “Two Indias have come into play where one India is saving up and waiting for prices to come down to clinch a good deal on premium products. On the other hand, there are low-value product sales i.e value-for-money purchases that are being bought more frequently,” said Abhishek Tandon, engagement manager at Redseer Strategy Consultants. The sale season, which is manna for bargain hunters, is also enthused by the number of Buy Now Pay Later and EMI options. “When it comes to big ticket purchases, premiumization is bolstered by financing options and discounts that make it affordable,” adds Tandon. In the pre-festive period between April and August,however, most consumer durable sales were in a negative zone, due to the high-base effect of last year, says Bank of Baroda’s report. Refrigerators, mobiles, readymade garments all showed a negative output – also indicating that discounts play a large role in discretionary purchases. Indian consumers have always been complicated and price has always played a big role in purchase decisions, choice of brands and more. But it’s no longer a linear story. One end of the market, driven by affluence, is veering towards premium purchases. The other end is looking for ways to survive with less in hand as inflation is eating into their purchasing power. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/mamaearth-this-fmcg-scion-is-all-set-to-gain-a-windfall-from-honasa-ipo/articleshow/104721052.cms">This FMCG scion is all set to gain a windfall from Honasa Consumer IPO</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/genzs-millennials-wants-to-be-back-to-offices-even-as-costs-pinch/articleshow/104700780.cms">GenZs, millennials want to be back to offices even as costs pinch</a>

Wine vs Tea: India’s consumption trends show a sharp divergence

India is celebrating <keyword id="23288581" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dhanteras" source="keywords">Dhanteras</keyword> today, even as the public remains cautious about adding gold's glitter to their portfolios, given the metal's sky-high prices. <keyword id="19910265" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="gold-prices" source="keywords">Gold prices</keyword> went past the Rs 81,000 mark today in Delhi. Per IBJA (<keyword id="20397944" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India-Bullion-and-Jewellers-Association" source="keywords">India Bullion and Jewellers Association</keyword> Ltd.), the cost of 24K gold stood at Rs 7,885/gram today, while 22K gold was priced at Rs 7,695/gram. While jewelers anticipate some increase in customer footfall today, between afternoon and late evening, the All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council expects sales volumes to remain steady at around 20 tons. However, per their estimates, sales this year might be down by 5% compared to last year. The <keyword id="19921618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Confederation-of-All-India-Traders" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Confederation of All India Traders" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Confederation of All India Traders">Confederation of All India Traders</keyword> (CAIT) projects nationwide retail trade worth Rs 50,000 crore during this Dhanteras. Even quick-commerce companies are cashing in on the Dhanteras sentiment. While Blinkit has partnered with Joyalukkas and Malabar Gold and Diamonds to deliver gold and silver coins in 10 minutes, Zepto has teamed with Augmont and Malabar for the same. Per media reports, Swiggy Instamart has partnered with Muthoot Exim and Malabar, while BigBasket has tied up with Tanishq. Legend has it that it was on this day that Lord Dhanvantari, the deity of health, appeared today, making brass utensils particularly auspicious for purchase. People also seek blessings from Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi, and Lord Kuber, and it is considered auspicious to buy gold and silver jewelry, utensils, kitchenware, vehicles, garments, and electronics on this day. <h2>The appreciation of gold</h2> Gold has had a great run this year, having a YTD (yield-to-date) of 24%. Despite high prices, the demand for gold this festive and wedding season is expected to remain buoyant in India. The yellow metal's demand as a haven has jumped up significantly in recent times, owing to <keyword id="19955176" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="geopolitical-tensions" source="keywords">geopolitical tensions</keyword> like the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Moreover, with governments across the world trying to tame inflation and boost spending by way of rate cuts, gold is increasingly being seen as an effective hedge against inflation. Experts suggest that the demand is set to remain elevated for the times to come. "The immediate outlook for gold remains robust, supported by the recent import duty reduction from 15% to 6%, which has already stirred significant market activity with imports doubling year-over-year. Despite price changes, the traditional festive and wedding seasons continue driving strong demand, with consumers adapting their purchasing patterns," says Vikas Singh, Managing Director &amp; CEO of MMTC-PAMP. "Looking ahead, multiple structural factors paint a positive long-term picture. There is an overall trend of increasing gold holdings providing sustained price support. While physical gold remains paramount, there's increasing interest in gold investments, particularly among urban consumers," he continues. <h2>How to check if your gold is pure </h2>First, always make sure to buy only hallmarked physical gold. "Hallmarking is the accurate determination and official recording of the proportionate content of precious metal in the precious metal article. Hallmarking provides consumers with third-party assurance and satisfaction that they get the right purity of gold (or silver), the government noted in a press release yesterday, urging customers to buy only <keyword id="23040621" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hallmarked-gold" source="keywords">hallmarked gold</keyword> and silver. Hallmarked gold is characterized by a few specific marks, like the logo of BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards), the jeweler's mark, and that of the hallmarking center. During the process of hallmarking, each piece of gold or silver is assigned a 6-digit alphanumeric code or HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification). Download the BIS Care app on your phone and enter this code using the verify HUID icon on the app. This will help you test the veracity of your purchased gold.

Gold continues to shine bright on Dhanteras, but should you participate in the glitter?

For most of us, heading out used to be an everyday ritual, but COVID-19 has left an unexpected impact — many people are staying home more often, and this shift might just be the “new normal.” A recent study reveals that, compared to pre-pandemic life, people are spending almost an hour less each day on activities outside the home. Additionally, people are spending about 12 fewer minutes a day on travel. Researchers analysed a survey of 34,000 Americans, finding that this trend toward staying home reflects a larger shift that had already begun but has accelerated significantly due to COVID-19. The study shows a lasting change: while some out-of-home activities have slightly bounced back since the peak of the pandemic in 2021, Americans are still spending about 53 minutes less outside the home than they did in 2019. In 2023, the amount of time people spend outside remains considerably lower than before the pandemic, with <keyword id="23763147" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="in-home-activities" source="keywords">in-home activities</keyword> taking up more of the day. <h2>The new routine</h2>This drop in out-of-home time is partly due to more people working and shopping from home. The study found a marked decrease in out-of-home activities like work and shopping. With <keyword id="20665553" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="remote-work" source="keywords">remote work</keyword> becoming more popular and online shopping more efficient than in-person errands, people are finding fewer reasons to go out. The researchers suggest that cities may need to rethink their policies around commercial and residential spaces, relaxing restrictions on converting offices into housing and creating more space for delivery services rather than traditional commuter parking. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114823699" title="Uber drops after its bookings results and forecast fail to impress" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>The authors of the study see this as an opportunity for cities to embrace a new role as “centers of consumption.” Since office workers are no longer essential to urban economies, central cities may focus more on their appeal as hubs for recreation, culture, and dining — areas that can attract residents who choose to live in more urban settings. This shift could also make cities more affordable by reducing housing and transport costs. Technology advancements played a significant role in this new preference for staying in. During the pandemic, people adapted quickly to working, socialising, and even exercising at home. For example, sales of <keyword id="20751231" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="home-gym" source="keywords">home gym</keyword> equipment surged, and now many people are working out at home rather than visiting gyms. Meanwhile, activities like TV watching did not rise post-pandemic as much as one might expect, with only a brief increase in screen time at the height of COVID. <h2>Less commuting, fewer emissions</h2>The study also shows a continued decrease in travel time, which initially dropped due to fewer commutes. Even as the world reopens, travel hasn’t bounced back completely, indicating that people are limiting outings beyond work as well. This decrease in driving and public transport use could have <keyword id="21198065" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="environmental-benefits" source="keywords">environmental benefits</keyword>, including lower emissions and fuel consumption. However, it raises questions about the potential downsides of extended time at home, such as <keyword id="20787438" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="social-isolation" source="keywords">social isolation</keyword>. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114822872" title="I&amp;#39;m an American who&amp;#39;s lived in South Korea for 10 years. Here are 9 things I don&amp;#39;t miss about the US." mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>As more people choose to stay in, the researchers suggest that cities may need to adapt by focusing less on peak travel demands and more on pedestrian and cyclist safety, as well as accessible services for lower-income residents. These adaptations could improve urban life, particularly in dense areas where the need for safer and more walkable spaces is high. The study’s authors point out that, although this trend toward “cocooning” at home has been growing for years, the pandemic has caused a much steeper drop than expected. Moving forward, cities and communities may need to embrace this new lifestyle by designing policies and spaces that cater to a society that prefers staying home— whether it’s about creating vibrant urban hubs or ensuring services are available to all residents. While only time will tell if this trend endures, one thing is clear: staying in has reshaped our daily lives and could change the face of our cities in the years to come. The findings of this research have been published in the Journal of the American Planning Association and can be accessed <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01944363.2024.2385327">here</a>.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made people more reluctant to go out, study finds

<ul class="summary-list"><li>This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.</li></ul>Good morning! With the holidays just around the corner, it might not hurt to earn a little extra cash. Four people with side-hustle experience <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/side-hustle-recommendations-passive-income-content-creation-amazon-etsy-2024-10">shared tips on their top gig recommendations</a>.In today's big story, betting on the presidential election is all the rage. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/election-betting-odds-trump-vs-harris-polymarket-kalshi-robinhood-2024-10">Can it keep the momentum going</a>?What's on deck:<ul><li>Markets: Blackstone's boss thinks Trump <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/finance-ceos-supporting-trump-blackstone-steve-schwarzman-citadel-ken-griffin-2024-10">would be a better president the second time around</a>.</li><li>Tech: Google's earnings <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-third-quarter-earnings-report-q3-2024-2024-10">were a big hit with investors</a>.</li><li>Business: What a Trump or Harris win <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/housing-affordability-supply-impact-presidential-election-scenarios-homebuyers-harris-trump-2024-10">means for the cost of housing</a>.</li></ul>But first, wanna bet?If this was forwarded to you, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-today">sign up here.</a><h3 id="7fa5f018-5b05-4a37-a8dc-d3f89138bcb3">The big story</h3><h2 id="5fd547b9-ec52-41fc-8e08-4f4b27dd8097">Presidential bets</h2><div type="image" title="Kamala Harris and Donald Trump with dice" height="812" width="1083" msid="114782269" hostid="261" sizebytes="50032"></div>We're less than a week from election day, but one group can already claim victory: betting markets.Platforms allowing users to bet on the US presidential race have become the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/election-betting-odds-trump-vs-harris-polymarket-kalshi-robinhood-2024-10">surprise star of election season</a>, writes Business Insider's Matthew Fox. And it could eventually change how we view any potential outcome, not just future elections.Kalshi, which has attracted more than $100 million in election-related bets, is currently one of the most popular apps in the Apple App Store. The trading app Robinhood also <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/presidential-election-betting-robinhood-legal-odds-2024-10">got in on the action</a> on Monday.Kalshi's <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/betting-us-election-cftc-kalshi-legal-battle-prediction-market-2024-10">legal victory in October over the CFTC</a> to offer election betting paved the way for the trend. But predictions markets are also spiking abroad where they've existed for years.Polymarket, which is not available to US citizens, has seen $2 billion in wagers this month, up from $533 million in September, according to The Block. Last year, the website averaged less than $20 million in monthly trading volume.The rise of election-betting markets hasn't been without controversy.A "whale" trader betting on former President Donald Trump to win the election grabbed headlines and drew conspiracy theories. Polymarket <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/polymarket-donald-trump-betting-odds-whale-french-trader-harris-polls-2024-10">confirmed the user was a French national</a> with trading experience betting on Trump "based on personal views of the election."<div type="image" title="A young man in the center of a $100 bill" height="1500" width="2000" msid="114782272" hostid="261" sizebytes="563774"></div>The betting market's biggest tests might come after the election.Supporters of prediction markets say they're <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/trump-harris-prediction-markets-polls-presidential-election-polymarket-024-8">more accurate than traditional polls</a>, citing their ability to quickly adapt to the latest news and the fact participants are invested in the outcome.This election will serve as a good test of that theory, as there's a wide gap between the two approaches. Betting markets have Trump as a heavy favorite, whereas traditional polls indicate a tight race.Should Trump win in a landslide, it could strengthen the case for using betting markets as a key tool for election analysis. Nate Silver, one of the most well-known polling analysts, is already an advisor to Polymarket.But a presidential race only happens once every four years. What about the rest of the time?If the past few years have taught us anything, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gambling-young-men-sports-betting-crypto-meme-stock-market-addiction-2024-4">this country loves to gamble</a>. From crypto to meme stocks to sports, young men, in particular, are happy to bet on just about anything.Prediction markets' business model can lean into that theme. On Kalshi, you can currently wager on whether the Tesla robotaxi will be released before 2026 or if the US will ban TikTok before May.<h3 id="77f31a4c-8462-4e3d-a71f-838cb79493fb">News brief</h3><h2 id="1fcd294b-3f53-425f-9f20-4093e8623b59">Top headlines</h2><ul><li>Why Boeing's $21 billion share sale is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-capital-raise-ecm-bankers-bonuses-wall-street-comp-expert-2024-10">an early Christmas present for Wall Street</a>.</li><li>How Trump vs. Harris is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wall-street-political-contributions-by-name-for-trump-vs-harris-2024-8">playing out on Wall Street</a>.</li><li>The Fed is likely to disappoint markets with just one more rate cut this year amid global inflation, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-cut-rates-inflation-powell-blackrock-ceo-larry-fink-2024-10">BlackRock CEO says</a>.</li><li>Microsoft just ramped up its cloud rivalry with Google by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-google-shadow-campaigns-cloud-regulation-undermine-business-azure-2024-10">accusing it of 'shadow campaigns'</a>.</li><li>Snap <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/snap-surges-gets-major-boost-from-ai-push-paid-users-2024-10">surges 10%</a> as it gets a major boost from AI and paid subscribers.</li><li>Google's been on an efficiency drive. Its new CFO said it can '<a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-earnings-q3-2024-new-cfo-boost-efficiency-2024-10">push a little further</a>.'</li></ul><h2 id="8120060b-ae66-48dc-b149-f0489a30ffa2">3 things in markets</h2><div type="image" title="Mark Zuckerberg speaking on stage." height="1600" width="2870" msid="114782278" hostid="261" sizebytes="38034"></div><ol><li>Wall Street has high hopes for Meta. Thanks to the company's AI optimization, analysts generally <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/meta-q3-earnings-preview-meta-stock-price-ai-growth-guidance-2024-10">expect positive figures</a> from Meta's third-quarter earnings report today. Bank of America has said the stock is a top AI pick, and investors are keeping an eye on AI growth opportunities.</li><li>Citadel's playing the long game with its shorts. Justin Lubell, the hedge fund's global equities head, said the firm's longest-running equities group made more money shorting stocks than its long-term investments in recent years. Lubell said the strategy benefits from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-citadel-focuses-on-shorting-stocks-according-to-justin-lubell-2024-10">the lack of competition on the short side</a>.</li><li>Two of Wall Street's top executives speculate on Trump's bid for a second term. Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, who has endorsed Donald Trump, thinks the former president <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/finance-ceos-supporting-trump-blackstone-steve-schwarzman-citadel-ken-griffin-2024-10">would be "efficient and effective" during his second go around</a>. Fellow billionaire and Republican mega-donor Ken Griffin expects Trump to win next week.</li></ol><h2 id="f4b54806-7f81-450c-ba32-92560d4fae9b">3 things in tech</h2><div type="image" title="A Linkedin logo sitting on a short stack of applications next to a large stack of applications" height="1500" width="2000" msid="114782270" hostid="261" sizebytes="192558"></div><ol><li>Can LinkedIn save us from hiring hell? The platform wants to help job-seekers apply smarter, not harder, by using AI to optimize the process. The goal is quality over quantity: LinkedIn hopes you'll apply to fewer jobs, but the ones you'll swing for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hiring-broken-linkedin-ai-fix-fewer-jobs-resume-spammers-2024-10">will be better matches</a>.</li><li>Amazon Web Services' Graviton chips are thriving. In 2018, AWS launched Graviton, its own line of homegrown central processing unit chips for data-center servers. Now, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/aws-graviton-chips-used-by-90-percent-top-1000-customers-2024-10">90% of AWS's largest server customers have become Graviton users</a>, a company executive told BI.</li><li>Five Apple Intelligence features you can try out now on your iPhone. Some of the highly anticipated AI tools include one that helps summarize long messages, one that limits disruptions, and another that can <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-intelligence-features-tested-on-iphone-16-pro-max-2024-10">edit randos out of your photos</a>.</li></ol><h2 id="9260fa45-d397-4b3c-b4f8-4bb193976216">3 things in business</h2><div type="image" title="Harris and Trump." height="1600" width="2400" msid="114782274" hostid="261" sizebytes="312674"></div><ol><li>How a Trump or Harris presidency could impact what you pay for housing. Affordable housing is one of America's top economic concerns heading into the election. Here's how each candidate's proposed policies would affect housing supply, first-time home buyers, urban vs. rural housing, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/housing-affordability-supply-impact-presidential-election-scenarios-homebuyers-harris-trump-2024-10">action against big landlords</a>.</li><li>Alphabet surpassed its third-quarter earnings expectations. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-third-quarter-earnings-report-q3-2024-2024-10">Google's parent company delivered beats on revenue</a>, earnings per share, its advertising business, and Google Cloud revenue. The search giant is all-in on AI — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-earnings-q3-2024-new-code-created-by-ai-2024-10">CEO Sundar Pichai said</a> more than a quarter of the company's new code is created by AI and then checked by employees.</li><li>Is X being influenced by Elon Musk or its users? Musk is self-proclaimed "super MAGA." And X, the social media platform he owns, is more likely to show content from right-leaning accounts, according to reports by The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. But it's unclear whether the platform is showing users what they want to see or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-donald-trump-twitter-x-wsj-washington-post-2024-10">what Musk wants them to see</a>.</li></ol><h2 id="9f5d80ac-3466-429f-a50a-2ffbb70c65ff">What's happening today</h2><ul><li>Meta, Microsoft, Starbucks, and other companies report earnings.</li><li>The Bureau of Economic Analysis publishes Q3 economic growth data.</li></ul>The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Milan Sehmbi, fellow, in London.

Betting on the election is the hottest new trend. But can prediction markets keep the momentum going?  

New Delhi, Along with the sharp decline in poverty in <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword>, there has also been a marked reduction in the rural-urban income divide in the country, according to an SBI Research analysis of a Consumer Expenditure Survey released on Tuesday. Rural Poverty has staged a significant 440-basis point decline since 2018-19 and <keyword id="20742154" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="urban-poverty" source="keywords">Urban Poverty</keyword> a 170-basis point decline post-pandemic, which shows that the government initiatives for promoting the welfare of the bottom of the pyramid are having a significant beneficial impact on rural livelihood, the report states. Rural Poverty is now at 7.2 per cent (25.7 per cent in 2011-12 while <keyword id="19945793" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="urban" source="keywords">Urban</keyword> Poverty is at 4.6 per cent (13.7 per cent in 2011-12), official data show. The report further states that India is becoming more aspirational as indicated by the increasing share of discretionary consumption (like spending on beverages, intoxicants, entertainment, durable goods, etc.) in rural and urban areas. The speed of aspiration is swifter in rural areas as compared to urban areas The SBI report states that the difference between rural and urban monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) is now at 71.2 per cent, a rapid decline from 88.2 per cent in 2009-10. Around 30 per cent of the Rural MPCE is explained mainly due to steps taken by the government in terms of DBT transfers, investments in building of rural infrastructures, augmenting farmer's income, all together improving the rural livelihood significantly. Enhanced physical infrastructure is enabling two-way rural-urban mobility, which is the prime reason for the incrementally shrinking horizontal income gap between the rural and urban landscape and the vertical income gap within rural Income classes, according to the SBI report. The states once considered laggards are showing the maximum improvement in rural and urban gap. States like Bihar, <keyword id="19894922" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="uttar-pradesh" source="keywords">Uttar Pradesh</keyword>, Madhya Pradesh are showing increasingly the impact of these factors, the report adds. The bottom half of the rural pyramid are now having consumption patterns mostly converging to urban counterparts. The report also states that revised MPCE weights in CPI computation could help India real GDP growth for FY24 to top 7.5 per cent. Other highlights: *Rural and Urban consumption are growing, on an average, at nearly the same growth rate (2.66 per cent for rural, 2.59 per cent for Urban) across classes. Using the statistical equivalent of <keyword id="20744250" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gini-coefficient" source="keywords">Gini Coefficient</keyword>, Horizontal Consumption Inequality between Rural and Urban across fractiles has declined from 0.560 to 0.475 *Urban Rural gap as a percentage of rural consumption is on a declining trend. It has declined from 90.8 per cent in 2004-05 to 71.2 per cent in 2022-23 and we believe, is projected to further decrease to 65.1 per cent in 2029-30 *In the lowest segment, urban consumption is only 46 per cent more dissimilar than the rural counterpart. Across fractile classes, urban consumption is only 68 per cent more dissimilar than rural counterpart, a number much less than the all India average. This indicates the bottom half of the rural pyramid are now having MPCE patterns mostly converging to Urban counterparts.

India's rural-urban income gap declines sharply amid fall in poverty level: SBI Report

<keyword id="20021345" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="TVS-Motor-Company" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="TVS Motor Company" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="TVS Motor Company">TVS Motor Company</keyword> expects to grow faster than the competition across domestic and <keyword id="20108266" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="international-markets" source="keywords">international markets</keyword> this fiscal, riding on the back of new <keyword id="22697277" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="product-launches" source="keywords">product launches</keyword> and strengthening of operations across key regions, according to CEO KN Radhakrishnan. He noted that in the <keyword id="20046426" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="domestic-market" source="keywords">domestic market</keyword>, the company expects growth momentum to continue with normal monsoons likely to add strength to the <keyword id="19929089" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rural-markets" source="keywords">rural markets</keyword>. In international markets, Radhakrishnan exuded hope to perform better in key markets like Africa this year while expanding operations in other regions like the Middle East and Latin America. "Our strong product portfolio; our unwavering focus on the consumers, quality, new products and attractive quality and technology, we are confident that we will outperform the industry both in the domestic and international markets," Radhakrishnan said in an analyst call. He noted that the growth momentum is likely to be maintained with the budget focusing on employment generation, continued higher commitment to infrastructure and rural economy. "We are expecting rural markets to recover. With the expected normal monsoon, we could witness robust growth in Q2," Radhakrishnan stated. He noted that for the first time the company is witnessing that the rural areas were doing slightly better than the urban markets. The improving road infrastructure and economic environment will drive the demand for two-wheeler mobility, he added. The <keyword id="21048623" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="two-wheeler-segment" source="keywords">two-wheeler segment</keyword> has got a huge opportunity in the medium and the long term given the challenges in mobility as well as also investments from the government on the infrastructure and road development, he said. The company, which has earmarked over Rs 1,000 crore capex this year, is gearing up to introduce one product each in the electric and internal combustion engine segments in the ongoing quarter. A significant proportion of the earmarked capital is expected to go towards the design and development of new products, Radhakrishnan stated. "I want to highlight that the company will be launching one product in ICE and one product in EV in this quarter and that will further strengthen our range of product portfolio," he said. Commenting on international business, Radhakrishnan said that the Red Sea issue has led to challenges in terms of enhanced transit periods for overseas dispatches. He noted that <keyword id="62356" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="TVS" source="Orion">TVS</keyword> has taken enough countermeasures to mitigate these challenges and the situation is likely to improve in the ongoing quarter. Certain select African markets are facing challenges due to currency devaluation and persistent inflation, he said. "However, considering the base effect in our assessment, the possibility of further decline in Africa is low. We feel that we will be doing better in Africa this year," he added. He further said: "Besides, Latin America gives us a huge opportunity. We have started exporting to LATAM. In Asia, we are seeing some challenges in Bangladesh, but we are hopeful that things will settle down soon." The Middle East is also a huge opportunity for TVS and the company is strengthening its operations in the region, he stated. For the April-June quarter this fiscal, <keyword id="46156" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="TVS-Motor" source="Orion">TVS Motor</keyword> Company reported a 6 per cent year-on-year increase in consolidated net profit at Rs 461 crore. Total income rose to Rs 10,448 crore for the period under review as compared to Rs 9,142 crore in the year-ago period.

TVS confident of outperforming industry in domestic, global markets following new product launches, ops strengthening

Indian companies across multiple sectors have reported disappointing results in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025, notes a new JM Financials report. Consequently, their poor performance has triggered stock price corrections for affected companies. The brunt of this weaker than expected earnings was largely borne by consumer centric sectors like FMCG (fast moving consumer goods), retail, and auto, which slacked largely due to dampened urban demand. For instance, India's largest automaker, Maruti Suzuki, reported a 5% YoY decline in its total domestic passenger vehicle wholesales, largely on the back of pent-up inventory. Similarly, Honda reported a staggering 23% YoY dip in its total sales during October 2024. A recent report by Bernstein noted that around 48% of the companies listed on the NSE100 index missed their earnings estimate for Q2FY25, the highest since March 2020. Most companies have mentioned deteriorated domestic demand, urban slowing, macroeconomic risk, and margin pressures as the main reasons behind the dip. "The quarter's earnings have made investors nervous," noted the JM Financials report. The challenging environment stems from multiple factors: softening consumer demand, rising input costs, and companies' limited ability to increase prices. Moreover, this is not limited to just one quarter. Companies have been reporting weak, single-digit earnings growth for the last six consecutive quarters. Data from India Data Hub also suggests that corporate profits of listed companies plunged by as much as 3.4% during the quarter ended September 30, 2024. This is in stark contrast to the year-ago period, where they had shot up by over 40% The oil and gas sector had a difficult quarter, with refiners hit by weak margins and city gas distributors struggling with higher input costs. Financial institutions showed mixed results. While government-owned banks reported strong numbers, microfinance institutions and some private lenders faced massive difficulties with their unsecured loans. Most notable amongst this was the case of IndusInd Bank, which saw its net profits dip by 40% amidst burgeoning provisions, which climbed 87% to Rs 1,820 crore in Q2, as against Rs 974 crore reported in the year-ago period. <h2>Markets head southwards</h2>The selling trend by FPIs has dragged down the major Indian indices, the Nifty 50 and Sensex, both of which have dropped by around 8% since the beginning of this selling spree in October. According to National Securities Depository Ltd. (NSDL) data, FPIs offloaded equities worth a significant Rs 19,994 crore in just the first five trading sessions of November last week. The impact is clearly visible on Indian stock markets. Data suggests that while every sector in October closed the month in red, auto, oil and gas, and consumer durables were the most badly hit, each declining by as much as 10% during the month. Another indicator underlining the inherent weakness of the market was that the month saw only 242 stocks hit their 52-week high, significantly below the usual monthly average of 310.

You Searched For "rural and urban demand trends" and got 11 results

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This map shows the rural places where young Americans are moving

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Wine vs Tea: India’s consumption trends show a sharp divergence

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The COVID-19 pandemic has made people more reluctant to go out, study finds

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Betting on the election is the hottest new trend. But can prediction markets keep the momentum going?

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India's rural-urban income gap declines sharply amid fall in poverty level: SBI Report

IANS

TVS confident of outperforming industry in domestic, global markets following new product launches, ops strengthening

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India Inc. stares at an earnings dearth in Q2, FMCG, auto, and consumer durables falter

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