A sharp deterioration in consumers’ views of the current economic situation weighed on confidence
😬
Present situation vibes dropped 7 points .
Expectations dipped (again) and have now been below 80 (the unofficial recession signal) since February (maybe giving credence to the rolling recession hypothesis?).
Consumers’ write-in responses showed that references to prices and inflation rose in September, regaining its top position as the main topic influencing consumers’ views of the economy.
The key to branding and messaging in a post-AI world? Personality
Average is easy to churn out at a superhuman clip. Stand out by saying things that only apply to your brand.
I’ve seen this advice a lot lately, this classic New Balance ad is a great example.
Say something only you can say.
The Year of the Splinter 🐀 continues (more of a decade, maybe an era).
Relevant headlines:
The top 10% of Americans account for nearly half of consumer spending
highlighting the growing divide between high-income earners and middle/lower-income earners
Over half of consumers consider grocery prices a ‘major stress’
Nearly 9 in 10 US adults (88%) are stressed about grocery prices—including 53% who say food costs are a major source of stress
Gen Z holiday spending tanks in 2025
See also:
