I love a good metric formula. So even though I don’t have a podcast (yet?), I’m here for Bumper’s listener lifetime value metric.

a podcast’s lifetime value score measures the average number of distinct calendar days each listener spends with the show

How to calculate:

For each platform, sum the daily-resolution unique audience members, then divide that total by the all-time deduplicated number. The result is the average number of “listener days” per unique audience member, AKA average lifetime value.

As with many metrics, the value is provided over time as you build your own trendline and history.

Generally, podcasters should aim for an ever-increasing average lifetime value score, except when overall audience size is trending down (that’s a trap)

Survey says: Consumers are not confident.

The Consumer Confidence Index dropped nearly 7 points since last month, dipping below 90.

Both the Present Situation and Expectation indices are down. The latter marking its 10th month below 80—which usually signals a recession coming.

“Consumer confidence tumbled in November to its second lowest level since April after moving sideways for several months"

Confidence is down across age groups and incomes, though the kids are feeling ok.

Why? Inflation, tariffs, and that whole government shutdown thing.

via The Conference Board

Consumer splintering continues:

the wealthiest 10% of households, those earning $250,000 or more, now account for half of all US consumer spending, up from about one-third in the early 1990s

This post also shares that the most defining characteristic of luxury brands and products in the minds of consumers is now “expensive.” Which, of course, distills it down to the essence of its use as a status symbol.

via EMARKETER

Sometimes you and a customer just aren’t a fit.

There’s nothing wrong with that.

The wrong part comes in if you try to ignore it and make it work anyway.