Despite high levels of consumer concern about the US-China trade war and its potential to cause a recession, the US economy is actually in pretty good shape for 2020. The US unemployment rate fell to 3.5% in September – its lowest level in 50-years, while retail sales grew more than expected over the summer. Consumer spending in general rose consistently throughout 2019, helping to keep the economy growing (albeit slowly). To manage a dip in manufacturing and business investment, the federal funds rate was cut for a third time in October. The rate, which affects the cost of mortgages, credit cards and other borrowing, now hovers between 1.5% and 1.75%. But the central bank says it will hold rates steady for the foreseeable future. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), meanwhile, expects the American economy to increase by 2.1% in 2020, and says if a deal easing trade tensions between the US and China is reached, it will have positive ramifications for growth globally. “The state of the US consumer, in aggregate, has never been healthier,” Morgan Stanley Chief US Economist Ellen Zentner wrote to clients recently, but how do consumers themselves feel about the state of their personal finances? Our 2020 US Consumer Finance report sets out to find out. The report explores the economic behaviors and attitudes of people in the US currently, and looks at where they’re headed in the future. Click to view research
2017 Food & Drink Consumer Trends Report August 21, 2017 To say that food and drink is big business for the UK would be a gross understatement. The Food and Drink Federation, a UK trade body, estimates that the industry contributes some £28.2 billion to the UK economy; and across the whole supply chain it produces over £100bn in economic value each year. That’s £2,453 (...)
2017 Media Consumption Report August 31, 2017 Marketers in the UK had a media spend of £21.4bn in 2016. This was a 3.7% rise, and the 7th consecutive year of growth. Spend looks set to continue to grow in 2017 in spite of Brexit. And media spend continues to increase inn digital, with 95% of new media spend allocated to digital-mobile media (...)
Brand Intelligence in the Age of Dark Social and Bad Data August 31, 2017 A great brand raises the bar — it adds a greater sense of purpose to the experience, whether it’s the challenge to do your best in sports and fitness, or the affirmation that the cup of coffee you’re drinking really matters. Howard Shultz, Executive Chairman and former CEO, Starbucks Why start with this quote? Because (...)