MIDA study: Consumers spend less, consider leaving the island

Félix Aponte, president of the Chamber of Food Marketing, Industry and Distribution (midatraining.org)

Meanwhile, a rise in use of weight-loss medications is indicated

By THE STAR STAFF

The 2026 Consumer Snapshot study by the Chamber of Food Marketing, Industry and Distribution (MIDA by its acronym in Spanish) concluded that most consumers in Puerto Rico have cut their monthly spending, a third of the population is considering leaving the island, and a number of respondents admitted to using weight-loss (GLP-1) medications.

“We see a slight but widespread reduction in average monthly spending, which points to a possible change in consumption patterns,” MIDA President Félix Aponte said at a press conference.

Specifically, food spending showed a 5% reduction, or $19 per month, while spending on household products decreased by a total of $18, equivalent to a 14% reduction.

MIDA Executive Vice President Manuel Reyes Alfonso noted that those dropoffs could be due to a combination of factors, including the “psychology of uncertainty that consumers are experiencing.”

“When asked about their household’s economic situation compared to last year, 31% of respondents said they are worse off,” he said. “When we asked about the economy in general, 66% of respondents view the current situation negatively, and 54% think it will be worse in a year.”

The study revealed that a third of respondents have considered leaving the island within the next one to three years, due to the economic situation or other conditions. The two most compelling reasons among those who said they have considered moving from Puerto Rico are “a better economic opportunity” (36%) and “a better quality of life” (28%).

“We see that younger generations and adults likely to raise children are the ones considering leaving the country,” Aponte said.

“Of those who responded that they have considered leaving, 57% belong to the 18-to-27-year-old age group, known as Generation L, and 37% belong to the 28-to-48-year-old demographic, known as Millennials.

“This raises a red flag regarding the reality of population aging in Puerto Rico,” the MIDA president added.

A notable finding in this category was that 8% of those interviewed reported using GLP-1 medications, marketed under brand names such as Mounjaro, Ozempic and Semaglutide.

“This 8% is not just a demographic statistic. It represents a new consumer profile with specific needs for protein, supplements, and nutritional monitoring,” Aponte said. “In the United States, this figure is close to 12%, and studies have already examined the impact of these medications on consumers’ purchasing habits. Therefore, it is an issue that supermarkets must pay close attention to.”