Manila, Oct. 26 -- Consumer habits have drastically changed over the years.

In the Philippines, households opt for smaller items that are easiest to use, like by pressing buttons, or can do more than one task, like a cooker that can also be a steamer or can bake.

The household final consumption expenditure data of the Philippine Statistics Authority for the second quarter of 2026 showed that after food and non-alcoholic beverages at 36.3 percent, housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels followed at 15 percent; and miscellaneous goods and services at 13.8 percent.

Such data are useful to companies, like Filipino-owned appliance maker Hanabishi, which turned 40 years this year.

The Ong family entered the market in 1986, the sam...