Some good news buried in all the tariff whiplash
The CPI dropped 0.1% in March (gas dropped 6.3%)
All items less food and energy is the lowest it’s been since 2021
The Fed’s not celebrating though
From the recent meeting:
participants remarked that uncertainty about the net effect of an array of government policies on the economic outlook was high, making it appropriate to take a cautious approach. Emphasizing that uncertainty, a majority of participants noted the potential for inflationary effects arising from various factors to be more persistent than they projected.
My own personal Siri?
Apple Inc. will begin analyzing data on customers’ devices in a bid to improve its artificial intelligence platform
The goal is to check how well the synthetic training data did while preserving privacy.
But this could be the foundation for AI models that become personalized to each user based on use, patterns, and on-device profiles.
Like ChatGPT remembering your chats, but based on your Apple device usage.
Edge AI—like XR glasses—is nothing but exciting potential right now.
via Bloomberg
The hits keep on coming for Google
Google created an illegal monopoly in the online advertising industry, a Federal judge ruled
According to the ruling, Big G pulled some anticompetitive shenanigans with ad servers and exchanges, and hurt publishers and users by doing so.
The Department of Justice argued that through acquisitions and anticompetitive conduct, Google seized control of the full advertising technology stack: the tools advertisers and publishers buy and sell ads and the exchange that connects them.
An appeal is coming.
via MarTech
The China tariffs are changing the ecommerce landscape in the US as the major players grapple with increased costs.
Temu and Shein have already cut average daily spending on social media platforms by 31% and 19% in the past 30 days
Temu backed out of Google Shopping entirely.
Auction pressure is going to be a lot different for advertisers.
Recent related tariff posts: analysis trap | ad spend impact
via The Daily Upside
The tea leaves are still swirling, but early reads aren’t great, Bob
A February survey of ad executives by trade group Interactive Advertising Bureau found a full 60% of respondents are projecting as much as a 10% reduction in ad budgets this year.
a recession could cause $45 billion in lost advertising, with promoters shifting from traditional television spots toward direct response channels.
The math is simple. Tariffs = higher prices = less budget for non-purchasing activities (like marketing or discretionary spending)
Related to yesterday’s post
via The Daily Upside