The FII Institute has released findings from its index showing that the cost of living has risen to the top of global concerns, with 57% of respondents saying that expenses and debt stand in the way of their decisions on having children, according to a report carried by Asharq Business.
The result places household budgets and personal indebtedness at the centre of the survey's reading of public sentiment, where day-to-day expenses carry as much weight in family planning as they do in wider economic anxiety. The index frames the pressure as a global phenomenon rather than one confined to a single market, which gives the figure added significance for policymakers and businesses tracking consumer behaviour across regions.
The findings emerge as the institute prepares its FII 10th Edition 2026, scheduled to run in Riyadh from 26 to 29 October 2026 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, where the agenda is expected to engage with the social and economic consequences of shifting household priorities.
The index adds a demographic dimension to the investment conversation the institute has cultivated in past editions, linking the affordability question to decisions that shape long-term labour markets and consumption patterns. For a gathering built around future-oriented investment, the reading offers a concrete measure of how financial strain is reshaping the choices of ordinary households.