Moderate Growth Projected for US Consumer Spending in 2025, Despite Tariff and Conflict Risks
US consumer spending in 2025 is projected to rise moderately, fueled by job growth and wage increases exceeding inflation, but potential tariffs and international conflicts pose significant risks, potentially dampening consumer confidence and spending on discretionary items.
Moderate Growth Projected for US Consumer Spending in 2025, Despite Tariff and Conflict Risks
US consumer spending in 2025 is projected to rise moderately, fueled by job growth and wage increases exceeding inflation, but potential tariffs and international conflicts pose significant risks, potentially dampening consumer confidence and spending on discretionary items.
Progress
36% Bias Score
Contrasting Holiday Results for Retailers: Lululemon Soars, Abercrombie Falls
Lululemon and Abercrombie & Fitch reported better-than-expected holiday sales, raising their fourth-quarter outlooks; however, Abercrombie's stock fell due to investor concerns about slowing growth, while Macy's disappointing results led to a stock drop exceeding 6%.
Contrasting Holiday Results for Retailers: Lululemon Soars, Abercrombie Falls
Lululemon and Abercrombie & Fitch reported better-than-expected holiday sales, raising their fourth-quarter outlooks; however, Abercrombie's stock fell due to investor concerns about slowing growth, while Macy's disappointing results led to a stock drop exceeding 6%.
Progress
32% Bias Score
US Corporate Bankruptcies Hit 14-Year High in 2024
In 2024, US corporate bankruptcies reached 686, an 8% increase from 2023 and the highest since 2010, driven by high interest rates, reduced consumer spending, and inflationary pressures; notable bankruptcies include Party City, Red Lobster, and the Container Store.
US Corporate Bankruptcies Hit 14-Year High in 2024
In 2024, US corporate bankruptcies reached 686, an 8% increase from 2023 and the highest since 2010, driven by high interest rates, reduced consumer spending, and inflationary pressures; notable bankruptcies include Party City, Red Lobster, and the Container Store.
Progress
48% Bias Score
China Unveils 2025 Policy to Boost Domestic Demand Through Trade-Ins and Subsidies
China's government announced a policy to boost domestic demand in 2025 by subsidizing digital product purchases and promoting equipment/consumer goods trade-ins, aiming to address slow retail sales growth (3.5 percent year-on-year in 2024) and low investment.
China Unveils 2025 Policy to Boost Domestic Demand Through Trade-Ins and Subsidies
China's government announced a policy to boost domestic demand in 2025 by subsidizing digital product purchases and promoting equipment/consumer goods trade-ins, aiming to address slow retail sales growth (3.5 percent year-on-year in 2024) and low investment.
Progress
36% Bias Score
China's 81 Billion Yuan Plan to Boost Consumption by 2025
China unveiled a plan to boost consumption by 2025, allocating 81 billion yuan ($11.9 billion USD) for industrial equipment upgrades and expanding trade-in programs for appliances and vehicles, aiming for over 1 trillion yuan in increased spending.
China's 81 Billion Yuan Plan to Boost Consumption by 2025
China unveiled a plan to boost consumption by 2025, allocating 81 billion yuan ($11.9 billion USD) for industrial equipment upgrades and expanding trade-in programs for appliances and vehicles, aiming for over 1 trillion yuan in increased spending.
Progress
48% Bias Score
Eurozone Retail Trade Sees Modest November Increase, but Recovery Remains Sluggish
Eurozone retail trade saw a 0.1% increase in November 2024, driven by fuel and food sales, but remains below pre-pandemic levels due to lingering supply chain issues, the war in Ukraine, and tight budgetary conditions; experts predict a modest recovery in 2025.
Eurozone Retail Trade Sees Modest November Increase, but Recovery Remains Sluggish
Eurozone retail trade saw a 0.1% increase in November 2024, driven by fuel and food sales, but remains below pre-pandemic levels due to lingering supply chain issues, the war in Ukraine, and tight budgetary conditions; experts predict a modest recovery in 2025.
Progress
12% Bias Score
Dutch Hospitality Faces 2024 Crisis Amidst Rising Costs and Reduced Spending
Despite a 4% rise in Dutch hospitality turnover in 2023, attributed solely to price hikes, reduced consumer spending and increased costs threaten the sector, with ABN Amro predicting 450 restaurant closures in 2024, double the 2023 number.
Dutch Hospitality Faces 2024 Crisis Amidst Rising Costs and Reduced Spending
Despite a 4% rise in Dutch hospitality turnover in 2023, attributed solely to price hikes, reduced consumer spending and increased costs threaten the sector, with ABN Amro predicting 450 restaurant closures in 2024, double the 2023 number.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Weak Consumer Spending Slams Myer and Premier Profits
Myer and Premier Investments reported significantly lower sales and profits for the first half of 2025, reflecting weak consumer spending during the Christmas period and Black Friday sales, driven by a challenging macroeconomic environment and high interest rates.
Weak Consumer Spending Slams Myer and Premier Profits
Myer and Premier Investments reported significantly lower sales and profits for the first half of 2025, reflecting weak consumer spending during the Christmas period and Black Friday sales, driven by a challenging macroeconomic environment and high interest rates.
Progress
44% Bias Score
China's E-commerce Logistics Index Soars to Near 7-Year High
China's e-commerce logistics index hit a near 7-year high of 113.7 points in 2024, fueled by strong online consumption (14.03 trillion yuan in online retail sales in 11 months) and new commerce models; the government is actively supporting this growth with policies aimed at boosting consumption and ...
China's E-commerce Logistics Index Soars to Near 7-Year High
China's e-commerce logistics index hit a near 7-year high of 113.7 points in 2024, fueled by strong online consumption (14.03 trillion yuan in online retail sales in 11 months) and new commerce models; the government is actively supporting this growth with policies aimed at boosting consumption and ...
Progress
48% Bias Score
China's Inflation Slowdown Fuels Deflation Concerns
China's consumer price inflation fell to 0.1% year-on-year in December, fueling deflation fears despite government stimulus efforts; factory activity shows expansion, but weak consumer spending and a struggling property sector pose major challenges.
China's Inflation Slowdown Fuels Deflation Concerns
China's consumer price inflation fell to 0.1% year-on-year in December, fueling deflation fears despite government stimulus efforts; factory activity shows expansion, but weak consumer spending and a struggling property sector pose major challenges.
Progress
48% Bias Score
China's E-commerce Logistics Index Hits Near 7-Year High
China's e-commerce logistics index reached a near 7-year high of 113.7 points in 2024, fueled by strong online consumption growth and the rise of new e-commerce models, resulting in over 150 billion express delivery packages and a 7.4% year-on-year increase in online retail sales.
China's E-commerce Logistics Index Hits Near 7-Year High
China's e-commerce logistics index reached a near 7-year high of 113.7 points in 2024, fueled by strong online consumption growth and the rise of new e-commerce models, resulting in over 150 billion express delivery packages and a 7.4% year-on-year increase in online retail sales.
Progress
48% Bias Score
German Book Market Shows Mixed Results in 2024: Revenue Up, Sales Down
Despite a 0.8% overall revenue increase in the German book market in 2024, driven by a 2.6% price hike, the number of books sold dropped by 1.7%, indicating reduced consumer spending. Fiction and non-fiction performed well, while travel and advice books saw declines. Data from Media Control's Handel...
German Book Market Shows Mixed Results in 2024: Revenue Up, Sales Down
Despite a 0.8% overall revenue increase in the German book market in 2024, driven by a 2.6% price hike, the number of books sold dropped by 1.7%, indicating reduced consumer spending. Fiction and non-fiction performed well, while travel and advice books saw declines. Data from Media Control's Handel...
Progress
24% Bias Score