San Juan — Most Puerto Rico consumers have cut their monthly spending, one in three is considering leaving the island, and a notable share has turned to GLP-1 weight-loss drugs — findings from the “Radiografía del Consumidor 2026,” a consumer study released by the Chamber of Marketing, Industry and Food Distribution (MIDA). “We are seeing […]
San Juan — Most Puerto Rico consumers have cut their monthly spending, one in three is considering leaving the island, and a notable share has turned to GLP-1 weight-loss drugs — findings from the “Radiografía del Consumidor 2026,” a consumer study released by the Chamber of Marketing, Industry and Food Distribution (MIDA).
“We are seeing a slight but widespread reduction in average monthly spending, which points to a possible shift in consumption patterns,” said MIDA President Félix Aponte at a press conference.
Spending Is Down Across the Board
Grocery spending dropped 5%, or $19 per month, while household product spending fell $18 — a 14% decline. MIDA Executive Vice President Manuel Reyes Alfonso attributed the pullback in part to what he called “the psychology of uncertainty affecting the consumer.”
The numbers bear that out: 31% of respondents said their household’s financial situation is worse than last year. When asked about the broader economy, 66% described current conditions as negative, and 54% expect things to get worse within a year.
One in Three Has Thought About Leaving
The study found that one-third of respondents have considered leaving Puerto Rico within the next one to three years, citing economic conditions or overall quality of life. The top two reasons given were “better economic opportunity” (36%) and “better quality of life” (28%).
The demographic breakdown is the most alarming part of that finding. Of those who said they have considered relocating, 57% belong to Generation L (ages 18–27) and 37% are Millennials (ages 28–48). “We are seeing that the youngest generations and adults likely to raise children are the ones considering leaving the country,” said Aponte. “This raises a red flag given the reality of Puerto Rico’s aging population.”
The GLP-1 Consumer Is Already Here
One of the study’s more forward-looking findings: 8% of respondents said they currently use GLP-1 medications — drugs marketed under brand names such as Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Semaglutide. For context, that figure is approaching 12% in the United States.
“This 8% is not just a demographic data point. It is a new consumer profile with specific needs around protein, supplements and nutritional monitoring,” said MIDA’s Rodríguez. Research in the U.S. has already documented measurable shifts in what GLP-1 users buy at the grocery store, and the executive urged supermarkets to pay close attention to this emerging segment.
