Ä¢¹½AV

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss what consumer confidence actually means, which specific economic indicators most significantly impact it, and what all this says about the overall health of retail right now. Listen to the conversation with our Senior Analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts Vice President of Content Suzy Davidkhanian, Senior Analyst Zak Stambor, and Research Associate Professor and Director of the Surveys of Consumers at the University of Michigan Joanne Hsu.

Delta expects 2025 to be a bumpy ride: Travel demand is cratering as the Trump administration’s policies create chaos and consumers brace for a recession.

Marketers struggle with shrinking returns on social media ad spend: A new study found diversification without divestment is key to staying afloat.

The company demands AI-driven workflows while offering only self-led training, risking burnout and backlash from a workforce already bracing for cuts.

Most professionals admit to exaggerating their AI skills as companies tie job security and promotions to tech fluency they’ve barely been trained for.

Walmart is upbeat despite tariff turmoil: The retailer expects to take share as shoppers grow more value-conscious.

While banks aren’t directly paying tariffs, they face a combination of other threats.

Disney’s ad-supported automated inventory goes global: The move unlocks new opportunities for advertisers to capitalize on Disney’s massive reach.

The retail outlook for 2025 is worse than previously anticipated. However, many smaller emerging markets are still in line for strong years, and ecommerce continues to claw share from traditional retail.

Levi Strauss excludes tariff impact from forecast: The uncertainty and upheaval from the latest duties are making it impossible for the retailer to nail down a mitigation strategy.

China turns to stimulus, charm offensive to blunt Trump’s tariffs: But US duties of 104% could deal a severe blow to an economy struggling with depressed consumer and business confidence.

It cancels a $1 billion US data center plan and pauses other developments as it braces for rising material costs and geopolitical pressures.

In today’s episode, we talk about what young people want most from a bank, their favorite alternative investments, and what their parents have taught them about saving for the future. Join the discussion with host and Head of Business Development Rob Rubin, Analyst Lauren Ashcraft and Senior Analyst Grace Broadbent.

Reddit expands its IAS partnership: New tools tackle fraud, improve viewability, and strengthen brand confidence on the UGC-heavy platform.

True Religion, the 23-year-old urban casual lifestyle apparel brand, has maintained relevance by strategically balancing heritage with innovation and leveraging cultural connections, while expanding to new audiences.

Social and music apps dominate younger users’ attention: The strong generational tilt toward these categories reinforces that routine-use platforms offer better ROI for marketers than niche apps.

Sports discussions see growth on Threads: The shift indicates that the platform could be closer to outpacing X than initially thought.