Latest news with #GenerationX
Gulf Today
8 hours ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
UAE consumers lead world in mobile shopping: Visa
The UAE has emerged as the world's leading market for mobile shopping, according to the 2025 Global Digital Shopping Index, UAE edition, commissioned by Visa Acceptance Solutions and conducted by PYMNTS Intelligence. Drawing on insights from a survey of 1,679 consumers and 329 merchants in the UAE, the report examines the growing role that mobile devices play in consumer behavior, providing UAE retailers insights to deliver more convenient and secure shopping experiences for their customers. Key findings found that 67 per cent of UAE consumers used their phones as part of their latest retail purchase - marking a 23 per cent increase since 2022. According to the index, The UAE has the highest rate of online shopping with mobile devices, at 37 percent, ahead of Singapore (34.8 percent), the U.K. (27.6 percent), and Brazil (24.4 percent). 32 percent of UAE consumers surveyed used biometric authentication (such as fingerprint or facial recognition) for their latest online retail transaction, far exceeding the global average of 17 percent. 53 percent of UAE consumers want to use cross-channel shopping (across physical and digital channels and different devices), the second-highest rate globally. UAE shoppers rank among the highest worldwide in preferring rewards programmes (75 per cent), free shipping (73 per cent), and price matching (70 per cent). 38 per cent of UAE shoppers made their most recent retail purchase online through a mobile phone or computer for home delivery. These trends are supported by a robust business and regulatory environment, with UAE merchants and government working closely to deliver secure, seamless, and customer-centric digital payment experiences. Salima Gutieva, Visa's Vice President and Country Manager for UAE, said, "The UAE's approach shows what is possible when all stakeholders work together to build the future of commerce. Visa is delighted to contribute to the UAE government's digital commerce agenda, and we remain committed to working with local businesses and banks to introduce innovations such as Visa's Click to Pay that can deliver the digital payment experiences that today's consumers demand.' Consistently high rates of mobile shopping across demographic segments underscore just how universal the mobile-first mindset has become in the UAE. Millennials lead in mobile shopping at 73 per cent, while Generation Z trails Generation X slightly. Baby boomers and seniors dropping off sharply, with just 18 per cent using a mobile phone for their latest purchase.
Al Etihad
8 hours ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
UAE leads world in mobile shopping: Visa
2 July 2025 18:27 DUBAI (WAM) The UAE has emerged as the world's leading market for mobile shopping, according to the 2025 Global Digital Shopping Index, UAE edition, commissioned by Visa Acceptance Solutions and conducted by PYMNTS on insights from a survey of 1,679 consumers and 329 merchants in the UAE, the report examines the growing role that mobile devices play in consumer behaviour, providing UAE retailers with insights to deliver more convenient and secure shopping experiences for their findings found that 67 percent of UAE consumers used their phones as part of their latest retail purchase, marking a 23 percent increase since to the index, the UAE has the highest rate of online shopping with mobile devices, at 37 percent, ahead of Singapore (34.8 percent), the U.K. (27.6 percent), and Brazil (24.4 percent).32 percent of UAE consumers surveyed used biometric authentication (such as fingerprint or facial recognition) for their latest online retail transaction, far exceeding the global average of 17 percent.53 percent of UAE consumers want to use cross-channel shopping (across physical and digital channels and different devices), the second-highest rate shoppers rank among the highest worldwide in preferring rewards programmes (75 percent), free shipping (73 percent), and price matching (70 percent).38 percent of UAE shoppers made their most recent retail purchase online through a mobile phone or computer for home trends are supported by a robust business and regulatory environment, with UAE merchants and the government working closely to deliver secure, seamless, and customer-centric digital payment Vice President and Country Manager for UAE, Salima Gutieva, said, 'The UAE's approach shows what is possible when all stakeholders work together to build the future of commerce. Visa is delighted to contribute to the UAE government's digital commerce agenda, and we remain committed to working with local businesses and banks to introduce innovations such as Visa's Click to Pay that can deliver the digital payment experiences that today's consumers demand.'Consistently high rates of mobile shopping across demographic segments underscore just how universal the mobile-first mindset has become in the lead in mobile shopping at 73 percent, while Generation Z trails Generation X slightly. Baby boomers and seniors are dropping off sharply, with just 18 percent using a mobile phone for their latest purchase.
Canberra Times
a day ago
- Business
- Canberra Times
FOMO is real. Gen X buyers speed up property search as loan conditions improve
Australian residential buyers are significantly shortening their property search timelines, according to the newly released Path to Purchase Report 2025 and those who are battling it out at auctions around the country might surprise you. If you were raised on mix-tapes, dial up phones and Nirvana, you're too young to retire but too old to TikTok, and too skeptical to care either way - chances are you're a Generation X (born 1965-79). Mixtapes your love language? Chances are you're house hunting. Pic by Mindspace Studio on Unsplash And according to the to Purchase report, you and your fellow Gen X'ers are leading the charge in buyer activity, accounting for 35 per cent of all residential purchases. Gen X is followed closely by Millennials (1980-94) at 28 per cent and Baby Boomers (1946-64) at 27 per cent. While Generation Z (1995-2009) is beginning to enter the property market, they currently represent just 7 per cent of all buyers. READ: Millennials like me are turning 40. So, why don't we own a house yet? Household composition data also reveals that couples without children make up the largest share of buyers at 32 per cent, with couples with children following at 27 per cent. The report reveals the average buyer journey has dropped to just 20.5 months, down from 25.9 months in 2024: a 20 per cent decrease in time buyers are in the market. property expert Simon Cohen said: " Path to Purchase report already shows the average property buyer's decision making journey dropping by close to a third since 2020, and I think that's just the beginning. What used to take 18 months could soon take six. I see that timeline continuing to shrink as better data and smarter tools empower buyers to act more decisively." This rapid acceleration in buying decisions is being fueled by increased buyer urgency amid falling interest rates and a more favorable lending landscape. The active purchasing phase (when buyers are inspecting properties and making offers) now lasts just over three months, highlighting a market in motion. These figures suggest that dual-income households, particularly those without dependents, are well-positioned to act quickly in the current lending environment. The research shows that FOMO (fear of missing out) is real and buyers are acting fast to lock in property. According to Christian Stevens, CEO of mortgage brokers Flint, the likelihood of a July rate cut is driving "pre-emptive" buyer behavior, with lenders reporting a noticeable spike in home loan applications. "With the rate cut cycle now well underway, we're seeing almost every client favour variable loans to ride the easing wave. It gives them flexibility and positions them to benefit from each subsequent reduction." Supporting recent data from NAB shows a substantial increase in loan pre-approval activity, as a growing number of first-time buyers are entering the property market, with NAB reporting a 16 per cent rise in home loan applications. Victoria is at the forefront of this trend, revealing a 28 per cent increase in first-home buyer lending since February. Western Australia and Queensland are also seeing strong momentum, with lending up 22 per cent and 21 per cent respectively. Nationwide, total lending to owner-occupiers has surged by nearly 30 per cent since the Reserve Bank introduced its initial interest rate cut earlier this year, reflecting renewed confidence and affordability among Australian homebuyers. The current shift in the market is not only a response to improved affordability but also reflects a broader trend of informed, financially prepared buyers taking advantage of real-time data and digital tools. The report positions the platform as a leader in real estate analytics, delivering detailed insights into buyer behaviour and market trends. These conditions are expected to persist through the second half of 2025, with further competition likely as rates continue to decline. Stevens said: "As of mid-June, the ASX RBA Rate Indicator shows a growing consensus for a third cut in July. While not locked in, the odds are firming fast. Markets are increasingly confident that the easing cycle is well underway." Path to Purchase report illustrates that property buyers are more agile, informed, and ready to act in 2025, which is setting new expectations for sellers, agents, and lenders alike in what had previously been a sluggish housing market. READ: Property rush: Aussies fast-track home buying
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Embracing Gen Z is future-proofing tomorrow
Born between 1995 and 2009, Generation Z currently represents 27 percent of the workforce, and projected to rise to 31 percent by 2035, making Gen Z the largest generation in the job market. 'Gen Z has introduced a wave of new skills, innovative ideas, and fresh perspectives to our company,' says Mauricio Pordomingo, Group Head of Talent at Zurich Insurance Group. 'Their creativity and tech-savviness are already making a powerful impact. To harness their full potential, we need to meet their expectations with meaningful experiences, growth opportunities, and clear career paths. Smart organizations know that embracing Gen Z isn't just future proofing tomorrow, it's about thriving in the present.' As the first generation to have grown up entirely in the digital age, they have never known a world without the internet, and their lives revolve around the latest technology – from smartphones to virtual reality gaming – and a diverse array of social media channels. This tech-savviness and dependency distinguish them from Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers. They have also been labeled the 'first global generation.' Throughout their lives, they have been virtually connected to people across the planet, with access to global news, information, and content through social media and other digital channels. 'Having grown up in a highly digital, interconnected, and fast-paced globalized world, Gen Zs feel that there are few or no boundaries, whether in their real or virtual lives,' says Valerie Malcherek, a Gen Z employer branding specialist at Zurich Switzerland, whose role is to ensure that the business continues to attract and retain the brightest young talent. 'This world of endless possibilities means they have high expectations for their employers,' Malcherek adds. 'And they believe businesses have a significant role to play in addressing social and environmental issues.' A good work-life balance holds significant importance and is prioritised over climbing the career ladder, unlike previous generations, Malcherek says. 'Building friendships and fostering positive relationships with work colleagues is often more important than job titles. Gen Zs are also motivated by having a meaningful career that allows them to positively impact society. Many want to work for companies that align with their values and where they are empowered to drive change.' Gen Zs are entering a workplace that's changing rapidly – and some of that pace of change is being driven by younger workers, says Sally Henderson, Group Head HR Business Partnerships at Zurich. 'Many Gen Zs want to develop at a fast pace, and they expect their employer to match that pace with the necessary, tools, technologies and opportunities.' Henderson emphasises the need to treat all employees as individuals and avoid stereotyping by generation. 'Everyone has their own unique style, needs, goals and traits. It's important to create a sense of belonging where everyone feels valued and engaged. This requires building an open and transparent environment where all employees can thrive, work together and learn from each other.'
Metro
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Rock star, 69, unsurprised by secret love child after sleeping with ‘millions'
An English singer has admitted he wasn't shocked discovering he'd fathered a child in the 80s due to his promiscuity. Billy Idol – real name is William Michael Albert Broad – first achieved fame in the 1970s London punk rock scene as the lead singer of Generation X. After embarking on a solo career, he released hits like Dancing with Myself and Rebel Yell but spent years out of the public eye in the latter half of the 1990s. Away from the spotlight, the 69-year-old has never married, but was previously in a long-term relationship with singer and dancer Perri Lister. They share son Willem, 36, while Billy also daughter Bonnie, 35, with Linda Mathis. It was just a few years ago that Billy discovered the existence of Brant – finding out he was actually a father-of-three through a DNA test. After Bonnie became a mother, she decided she wanted to find out more about her family tree and was shocked to be see a connection with Brant, whom she soon found out was her half-brother. The discovery forms part of the new documentary Billy Idol Should Be Dead, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this month. When speaking to iNews about finding out what it felt like to uncover he'd fathered a child during his 1985 tour Rebel Yell, he reflected on his hedonistic lifestyle at the time. 'Maybe a little bit, but the more I thought about it, I guessed there must be something like that,' he responded when asking if it had been a shock. 'We were going around in the '80s and '70s, just having knockdown, drag-out sex with a million people you didn't know. 'A lot of people in the rock world got children beyond their usual relationships.' He was then probed on whether he'd considered the possibility he might have other children he's yet to connect with. 'I think we would know about them now if there were,' he said. Billy, who is now a grandfather of four, went on to share he was now at a 'better place in my life'. He said the fact he was no longer a drug addict allowed there to 'be there' for his children and grandchildren. In the documentary Billy spoke about his children and how he wanted to make up for lost time. 'I really enjoyed being a dad. I always wanted a boy and a girl, and I finagled my way into a boy and a girl. In your own daft way, you've achieved what you set out to do,' he said. 'And I actually had a son that I didn't realise, who I fathered on the Rebel Yell tour without knowing it. So, I somehow finagled this as well.' Once his children met, he noticed how they all shared the 'same quirky sense of humour'. Meanwhile Brant said that after getting to know his dad, he now sees him as a 'man who loves his family'. Over the decades Billy has struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction, including heroin and cocaine. In his 2014 memoir, he wrote about waking up in hospital after passing out in a nightclub several times. After collapsing outside a Los Angeles nightclub due to an overdose he ceased his drug use, deciding his children would never forgive him for dying of a drug overdose. He's not taken hard drugs since 2003, but Billy wrote in his memoir he continued to smoke cannabis and drank occasionally. Last year Bily reflected on how his sexual exploits inspired his 1982 hit Hot in the City. More Trending He'd just moved to the Big Apple from London, and was inspired by the club scene, drippingly-hot air and his own desires. 'I was literally hot in the city but also, I felt sexually alive. I was sexually hot,' he told Vulture. He then said his 1983 hit Rebel Yell was about being 'blazing hot' for a girlfriend, who he wanted to make an 'orgasmic cry of love for'. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Ozzy Osbourne all giddy at Black Sabbath rehearsals ahead of epic farewell show MORE: X Factor legend breaks down in tears after being forced to cancel string of shows MORE: The Damned announce 50th anniversary show and are shocked they're 'still breathing'
