Want additional evidence of the American consumer’s declining confidence? Check out retail foot traffic. Visits to U.S. stores dropped by 4.3% in early March, the Financial Times (FT) reported Sunday (March 16), citing data from RetailNext. That drop was on top of decreases that kicked...
Generation Z saw the sharpest increase in the number of people living paycheck to paycheck over the past two years. The share of Gen Z consumers living paycheck to paycheck leapt from 57% in January 2023 to 69% in January 2025, according to the PYMNTS...
Inflation’s still sticky. Most consumers live paycheck to paycheck. And yet, despite the pressures of daily life — meeting the essentials while eyeing what’s left over to pay for a myriad of other choices, including how we get those essentials — convenience services, which bring...
Earnings season, for the fourth quarter, is moving toward its conclusion. The last few companies will weigh in with their results through the coming days. In roughly a month, it all begins again, as the first quarter reports roll in. And though fewer than three...
By all rights, this should be a season of discontent for the restaurant industry. Among the pressures facing this sector: Icy temperature, concerns about prices, a drop in consumer spending, and the fact that January and February are historically the slowest time of year for...
Generation Z, typically defined as people born between 1997 and 2012, is changing how consumers engage with the health and beauty market, according to PYMNTS data. Unlike older generations, who have traditionally favored in-store shopping for personal care and beauty products, Gen Z is embracing...
High interest rates. Pending tariffs on a wealth of foreign imports. Concerns about mass deportations. Taken together, these factors are all driving a drop in demand for home improvement projects, the Financial Times (FT) reported Sunday (March 2) As that report noted, shares of a...
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon reportedly said Thursday (Feb. 27) that the retailer is seeing signs of stress among consumers due to food prices remaining high. Speaking at the Economic Club of Chicago, McMillon said Walmart sees budget-conscious customers buying smaller pack sizes, being more selective and...
Data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis released Friday (Feb. 28) offers sobering food for thought for merchants, even as the financial standing of consumers improved. A boost in consumers’ income and savings comes at the expense of ringing up sales at the register. Personal...