Consumer brands face renewed pricing pressure

Consumer brands faced a split between price-led growth and weakening volume: chocolate makers held prices despite easing cocoa, P&G saw flat shipments as shoppers traded down, and Indian companies prepared further increases. Resilient demand persisted where companies combined strong brands with targeted categories, lifting outlooks at Unilever and Coca-Cola and supporting Danone’s protein and medical-nutrition growth.

That tension is pushing companies toward automated pricing, deeper data capabilities, and tighter control of digital commerce. Beauty also attracted focused expansion and investment as companies emphasized specialized products and premium brand-building.