When a consumer expects to pay less for a product than the actual market price, what is the result?

When a consumer expects to pay less for a product than the actual market price, it leads to a situation known as negative consumer surplus. Consumer surplus is the difference between what a consumer is willing to pay for a product and what they actually pay. When the actual price exceeds their expectations, the consumer perceives a loss because they feel they are paying more than the value they placed on the product. This negative consumer surplus reflects a scenario where the consumer experiences dissatisfaction and feels they are not receiving a fair value for their purchase.

In contrast, positive consumer surplus occurs when a consumer pays less than the maximum amount they are willing to pay, resulting in a net gain. Decreased purchasing power usually refers to a situation where consumers can buy less with the same amount of money, not directly linked to expectations about the price of a specific product. Increased demand for products typically relates to factors like consumer income, preferences, and prices, but is not directly caused by a mismatch between expected and actual prices.