By: Ray Day

CONTACT:

Ray Day
ray.day@stagwellglobal.com 

We wanted to share our latest consumer and business insights, based on research from Stagwell and Allison Worldwide. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

AMERICANS’ FINANCIAL CRISIS WORSENS

Nearly all Americans believe the U.S. is suffering from an affordability crisis, and many are drowning in increasing debt, based on our Harris Poll research with the Guardian.

• 95% of Americans believe the U.S. is suffering from an affordability crisis.
• 57% believe the economy is worsening – an increase from 46% who said the same in February.
• The affordability crisis is hitting everyone, with half of all Democrats, Republicans and independents saying they are having trouble affording everyday necessities like gas and groceries.
• Two-thirds – including 49% of Republicans – say they have little faith that the federal government will improve the cost-of-living crisis.
• Rural Americans are the hardest hit and most likely to say good job opportunities have disappeared in the past year and that tariffs have negatively affected American manufacturing jobs.
• On top of rising expenses, half of Americans say they are struggling to afford growing debt, including student loans.
• See also: FICO Survey Finds Credit Confusion Still Holding Back Prospective Homebuyers
• See also: Summer BBQ Costs Are Changing The Way Americans Host This Season

MANY STILL ONLY USE AI FOR SEARCH

Americans are adopting AI quickly, yet many are still using it like a glorified search engine, according to “Beyond Adoption: Paths to AI Expertise” report from Stagwell’s National Research Group.

• 58% of Americans think an AI chatbot is “looking up the answer in a huge database,” while only 13% correctly say it is guessing which word comes next based on learned patterns.
• Among people who use AI at least occasionally, 63% say they use it for quick answers to questions and 48% to learn about a new topic.
• Asked what holds non-AI adopters back, the biggest barriers are not knowing what AI can do (50%) and not knowing how to ask the right questions or prompts (46%).
• 26% of AI superusers say fear of being judged for using AI is a major barrier for the non-users.
• When asked what would help more people become more AI confident, superusers point to practical education (43%) and a more intuitive, approachable user experience (20%).

SHOPPERS WANT AI SUPPORT, NOT CONTROL

Consumers are open to AI helping them shop, yet they’re wary of hidden influence, auto-pilot decision-making and recommendations they don’t understand, according to “The Algorithmic Aisle” report from The Harris Poll.

• 72% of global consumers are comfortable with AI helping them shop as long as they make the final decision.
• Nearly three-fourths are comfortable with AI comparing prices across brands or retailers, while 71% are comfortable with AI checking whether a product claim is accurate or credible.
• 71% are comfortable with AI helping them discover new or emerging brands.
• Yet trust is shaky: 78% assume brands will try to pay their way into AI recommendations, and 76% say they would lose trust in a retailer if its AI recommended sponsored products without making it clear.
• Consumers also worry AI could narrow choice, with 74% skeptical about AI mostly recommending premium or expensive products.

BAD OFFICE DESIGN KEEPS EMPLOYEES AWAY

A return-to-office problem is less about policy and more about the workplace itself, based on new Harris Poll research with National Business Furniture.

• Nearly three-fourths of onsite employees say they’re frustrated with their workspace, and 79% say onsite improvements would increase how often they come in.
• Among hybrid workers, 77% would work onsite more often if workspace frustrations were resolved.
• Collaboration is a particular weak spot, as less than half (47%) say they can easily collaborate with others in dedicated spaces.
• 57% say they struggle to focus at work at least some of the time because of their workspace setup.
• Connection is lagging too – with only 42% saying they always/often feel connected to coworkers because of their workspace.
• The biggest day-to-day frustrations: 23% cite noisy environments, 22% say lack of privacy, and 19% point to cluttered shared spaces.
• See also: 76% believe everyday tech products are not designed with accessibility in mind

ICYMI: In case you missed it, check out the thought-leadership and happenings around Stagwell making news:

• Positive leadership = servant leadership (Ray Day) 
• America Turned 250. It Wants a Better Town, Not a Bigger Moonshot (Harris Poll and PMI)
• More Americans Are Getting Prenups, Even If They Aren’t Rich (Harris Poll and Bloomberg)
• Half of Marketers Are Guessing on What Drives Purchasing Decisions Today (Harris Poll)

By: Ray Day

CONTACT:

Ray Day
ray.day@stagwellglobal.com 

We wanted to share our latest consumer and business insights, based on research from Stagwell and Allison Worldwide. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

THE MALL COMEBACK IS REAL

Malls remain a valuable retail environment, with younger shoppers driving long dwell times, apparel leading foot traffic, and adults 25–34 delivering the highest per-visit spend, according to new research from Stagwell’s The People Platform.

• 81% of mall shoppers visit more than once a month, underscoring the mall’s continued role in regular consumer routines.
• Reasons to visit other than for shopping include socializing (21%), exercise (14%), services (8%) and passing time (5%).
• Shoppers ages 25–34 spend an average of $296 per visit, the highest of any age cohort.
• Gen Z mall-goers spend 2.6 hours per visit on average, the longest dwell time of any age group. The average mall trip lasts 2.12 hours.
• 65% of mall visitors shopped at a clothing store, making apparel the mall’s biggest traffic driver.
• 51% of visitors who went into a clothing or accessories store made a purchase, a strong conversion rate for the category.
• The mall remains more than just a shopping destination, as 46% visited the mall to eat at a restaurant or in the food court.
• See also: People are Tracking Spending More Closely — Should You?

GLP-1 STIGMA LINGERS

GLP-1 use is widespread in both the U.S. and UK, yet attitudes remain divided between seeing the drugs as a legitimate health tool and a cosmetic shortcut, according to new research from HarrisX and Allison.

• 24% of Americans and 16% of Brits say they have used a GLP-1 medication, and another 23% of Americans and 30% of UK adults say they are open to or actively considering taking one.
• Half of Americans say using GLP-1s for weight loss is a responsible health choice, compared with 37% of Brits.
• At the same time, 50% of Americans and 63% of Brits say using GLP-1s is a shortcut.
• Nearly three quarters of Americans and 78% of Brits believe too many people are using GLP-1s for cosmetic weight loss.
• Two thirds of Americans and 55% of Brits say GLP-1 use is socially acceptable.
• Among current users, 64% of Americans and 51% of Brits say they are open about taking the drugs.
• Roughly half in both countries say creator conversations help reduce stigma around GLP-1 use.

MANUAL WORK EATS UP THE WORKDAY

While most enterprises have adopted AI, many employees still spend significant time moving data, reconciling reports and redoing work because core systems remain disconnected, according to our Harris Poll data with Workday.

• 1 in 5 workers lose at least seven hours a week moving information between systems.
• 81% of enterprise decision-makers say leaders spend significant time moving information between systems, and three quarters say leaders also spend significant time reconciling conflicting data or reports.
• Despite the friction, 97% still rate their day-to-day work experience positively, suggesting the issue is more about systems than morale.
• Globally, 43% of employees say they have busy-but-unproductive days often or very often. In the UK, that rises to nearly 60%.
• In HR, 70% report spending significant time redoing work due to system issues, the highest rework burden of any function.
• In finance, 1 in 5 say AI has accelerated work without improving results, the highest rate of any function.
• Even so, 70% of operations respondents say AI has reduced their time on tasks, the highest of any function.

AI ISN’T THE BOSS

Both hiring managers and workers still see clear limits on where AI should replace human involvement, based on a survey from Harris Poll and Express Employment Professionals.

• 9 in 10 U.S. hiring managers say AI will never replace the need for actual employees at their company.
• 92% say their company is committed to preserving a human element in the workplace.
• The top functions where companies most often prioritize people over AI are Human Resources (59%), Customer Service (57%), Ethics and Compliance (47%), Information Technology (43%) and Sales (39%).
• 82% of hiring managers and 76% of job seekers say crisis situations or emergencies should still involve people.
• Hiring managers also want people involved in reviewing applications and selecting candidates for interviews (79%).
• 77% of hiring managers say humans should remain the first point of contact for customer issues or questions.
• See also: 73% of On-Site Employees Are Frustrated with Their Workspace

ICYMI: In case you missed it, check out the thought-leadership and happenings around Stagwell making news:

• The game is 90% offense for communications pros who need to be data-led, digital-first and future-focused (Ray Day, Allison and PRWeek) 
• The Pulse of Cannes reveals what really made an impact during 2026’s International Festival of Creativity (Stagwell Marketing Cloud and Allison)
• Mobile-first preferences are rewiring consumer expectations for corporate payouts (National Research Group)
• Listeners are turning to YouTube for audio more than any other platform (Harris Poll)
• 6 International Cities Seeing the Biggest Surge of Americans Relocating Right Now (Harris Poll)

By: Ray Day

CONTACT:

Ray Day
ray.day@stagwellglobal.com 

We wanted to share our latest consumer and business insights, based on research from Stagwell and Allison Worldwide. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

WORLD CUP CONVERTING U.S. FANS

Half of Americans are watching the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, with 1 in 4 saying they only recently started following soccer. The newfound interest is because of this summer’s tournament, our Harris Poll research finds.

• 27% of Americans say they are more interested in soccer today than a year ago.
• 26% self-identify as growing soccer fans because of the World Cup.
• 52% say hosting major events in North America is making Americans bigger fans.
• Millennials (62%), Hispanic Americans (63%) and hybrid workers (66%) are driving the soccer fandom surge.
• Gen Z’s new interest in the sport is being driven by social media – cited by 70% of new Gen Z fans, compared to 55% overall.
• Soccer’s rise isn’t temporary: 39% of Americans already are interested in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

PATIENTS TRUST DOCTORS MORE THAN INFLUENCERS

Consumers are increasingly turning to emerging media for healthcare information, yet trust still rests with medical professionals, according to new research from The Harris Poll and Syneos Health.

• People receive healthcare news from influencers more than healthcare providers (HCPs) – but 84% trust HCPs compared with 49% who trust influencers.
• 61% of consumers prefer healthcare news that uses “common sense” over data science.
• 99% of primary care providers (PCPs) say patients bring information from emerging media sources into appointments.
• 76% of PCP’s say they spend more time correcting misinformation, while 69% spend more time explaining care.
• Two thirds of PCP’s say emerging media decreases a patient’s willingness to follow recommendations.
• 77% of HCP’s say they are already seeing patients’ health suffer because they followed advice from emerging media over medical experts.

CORPORATE REPUTATION PAYS

Companies with excellent reputations earn a clear advantage across purchase, advocacy and community support, according to the Trust-Relevance Matrix research from The Harris Poll and HarrisQuest.

• 79% would purchase products or services from companies with excellent reputations, versus 70% for companies with good reputations.
• 7 in 10 would recommend a company with an excellent reputation as a good place to work, compared with 58% for companies with good reputations.
• 84% would welcome expansion in their community from companies with excellent reputations, versus 71% for companies with good reputations.
• 78% would give a company with an excellent reputation the benefit of the doubt, compared with 68% for companies with good reputations.
• 82% of Americans say companies need a proven track record of acting on their values before they will take them seriously.
• Traditional trust signals – longevity, product quality, familiarity – carry less weight with Gen Z.
• When asked what they want companies to engage on, Gen Z ranks mental health second only to economic stability – a priority that barely registers for older generations.

AI ADS NOT CUTTING IT WITH CONSUMERS

Global consumers are turned off by AI in advertising, saying it makes brands feel less authentic and less trustworthy, based on a new survey from The Harris Poll, Infillion and 4As.

• More than two-thirds of global consumers view AI as largely a “marketing ploy.”
• 63% say they would be less likely to purchase from a brand that uses AI-generated ads
• 73% say they would be less likely to trust an ad they suspected was made using AI.
• 54% of consumers say hearing so much about AI is “starting to annoy them.”
• Ad industry adoption is moving faster than consumer comfort, with more than half of professionals already using AI for idea generation and concepting.
• See also: How Artificial Intelligence became corporate America’s new reputation fault line

ICYMI: In case you missed it, check out the thought-leadership and happenings around Stagwell making news:

• Creativity can be communicators’ secret sauce (Ray Day and The Holmes Report)
• 6 PR leaders unpack key trends from Cannes Lions 2026 (Ray Day and PR Week)
• Monthly beer consumption among craft drinkers reached 85%, its highest number since 2020 (Harris Poll)
• How the on-the-go video network, Gas Station TV (GSTV), is redefining the attention economy (The Marketing Cloud)
• Megan Rapinoe shares her women’s sports prediction with the Allison Sports Report (Allison)

By: Ray Day

CONTACT:

Ray Day
ray.day@stagwellglobal.com 

We wanted to share our latest consumer and business insights, based on research from Stagwell and Allison Worldwide. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

AMERICANS TRUST PHONE PRIVACY TOO MUCH

Americans deeply trust calls and texts for sensitive communication – and many misunderstand how much control they have over privacy, according to our Harris Poll research with Cape.

• 81% trust phone calls for sensitive communication, while 76% trust SMS, 76% trust email and 74% trust voicemail.
• 59% do not know that turning off location settings does not stop all forms of location tracking, while 37% incorrectly believe it does.
• 58% do not know their phone number can be transferred to another device without their permission in a SIM-swap attack.
• Four in 10 don’t know that mobile service providers can share personal information – such as contact information and usage data – with other companies for marketing and other purposes.
• 65% say they are interested in switching to a mobile provider with stronger privacy and security protections, including 74% of Millennials, 69% of Gen X, 65% of Gen Z and 55% of Boomers.

CREDIT CARD ADDICTION

With high inflation and interest rates, household debt is growing – and revolving credit cards are a growing concern, according to our Harris Poll research with NerdWallet.

• The biggest year-over-year increases in American debt include mortgages (up 3.02%), auto loans (up 2.62%), student loans (up 1.66%) and revolving credit cards (up 1.64%).
• Revolving credit card debt has been on the rise since 2021, and 47% who currently have revolving credit card debt say it will increase this year.
• 49% of consumers say carrying revolving credit card debt is normal.
• 26% with revolving credit card debt (26%) say they generally only make the minimum payment each month.

MORE THAN GOALS DRIVING WORLD CUP

While current World Cup excitement is real, the conversation drivers of risk, politics and cultural flashpoints are as intense as the game itself, according Stagwell’s Marketing Cloud Kick It Up! report.

• 72% of total World Cup visibility is driven by geopolitics, athlete activism and host-nation readiness.
• 89% of coverage around human rights and surveillance is negative, while 31% of geopolitics coverage is negative.
• Meanwhile, 68% of coverage around local soccer pride is positive, and 56% of sustainability coverage is positive.
• 39% of coverage around tourism uplift is positive.
• Consumers with household incomes above $100,000 over-index on World Cup familiarity and regard, with men 30–45 who earn more than $100,000 being a core audience.
• See also: Fans say World Cup ticket prices deserve a red card

WHAT DOES SUMMER TASTE LIKE?

We took a look at how much people care about their summer fruits and vegetables, using data from The Harris Poll and Instacart.

• Every state has a favorite: Vermont over-indexes on corn at 40% above the national average. Maine leads the country on heirloom tomatoes.
• New Mexico likes peaches more than any other state (83% above the national average), followed by Utah (+45%), Arizona (+42%) and South Dakota (+37%).
• Overall, Americans have strong feelings about peaches: 35% say a perfectly ripe peach beats any other summer dessert, and 26% like to eat them at room temperature – and say refrigerating a peach is a crime.
• Watermelon is the Southwest’s unofficial side dish – led by Nevada (36% above the national average), Texas (+35%), Wyoming: (+25%) and California (+24%).

ICYMI: In case you missed it, check out the thought-leadership and happenings around Stagwell making news:

• Media relations is having a Route 66 moment (Allison)
• A Quarter of Gen Z Is LGBTQ+. Your Brand Is Ghosting Its Own Future (Harris Poll)
• More Canadians journey south of the border for the second month in a row (Harris Poll)
• The UK is a country united on the past, but divided on the future (Harris Poll)
• AI Has a Flatness Problem: Can Agents Solve It? (National Research Group)

By: Ray Day

CONTACT:

Ray Day
ray.day@stagwellglobal.com 

We wanted to share our latest consumer and business insights, based on research from Stagwell and Allison Worldwide. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

PARENTS ARE STILL PAYING THE BILLS

Many Americans still depend on family support, and 1 in 5 doubt they ever will become financially independent, according to the 2026 Planning & Progress Study by Harris Poll and Northwestern Mutual. 

• 42% of U.S. adults still rely on previous generations for financial support.
• Reliance is especially high among younger adults, with more than half of Millennials and about 1 in 4 Gen Zers reporting it.
• On average, Americans say they have achieved or expect to achieve financial independence at age 37.
• Fewer than 1 in 3 Americans plan to leave an inheritance behind. Among those who do expect to leave one, the average inheritance is below $50,000.
• See also: Young Americans say parenthood now feels like a choice between family and financial security

HALF WATCHING THE WORLD CUP

Half of Americans plan to watch at least one World Cup match on TV, streaming or social media during the next several weeks, according to our Harris Poll research.

• 52% say hosting major international sporting events in North America is making them more interested in sports they would not normally follow.
• 51% say they have noticed brands sponsoring or advertising around the World Cup.
• 50% hope their favorite brands are involved with the tournament in some way.
• See also: How “beyond the broadcast” engagement strengthens sports fandom
• See also: America’s Surge in Soccer Fandom

MEN ARE GOING FOR A GLOW-UP

Men’s grooming routines have become the next frontier in beauty, as more men view skincare as part of their overall wellness journey, based on our Harris Poll data.

• Nearly a fifth of men (18%) say beauty/skincare spending would be the hardest to cut back this summer.
• Half of Gen Z and Millennials (48%) would still buy a favorite skincare product even with a price tag of $100.
• With an annual estimated 8% growth, forecasts predict men’s skincare will hit $16 billion by 2032 and men’s grooming products as a whole $276 billion by 2030.

SUMMER JOB GHOSTING SEASON

Job applications have a new worry this summer: In addition to a rising number of job seekers who say they never hear back from applications, a growing trend is a “ghost position” – an online listing from companies with no immediate intention to fill it or for a job that does not exist at all, based on our Harris Poll and other research.

• 53% of applicants assume they will not receive any response from a company after applying.
• Up to one third of all job postings are assumed to be fake.
• Ghost postings are said to be phantom listings to collect resumes in reserve, create an illusion to their workforce that help is on the way and even portray an appearance of company growth.
• Several lawmakers are pushing for legislation to crack down on phantom postings.
• See also: 4 in 5 believe careers in creative fields are undervalued

LGBTQ+ SEE BRANDS PULLING BACK

LGBTQ+ consumers are paying close attention to whether brands stand by their values when support gets tested, according to new Inclusive Insights research from Harris Poll.

• 81% of LGBTQ+ consumers say brands have pulled back support in the last two years.
• 84%  lose trust in brands that back away from causes or communities.
• 89% of LGBTQ+ consumers say they trust brands more when support is consistent over time.
• 90% say brands should treat LGBTQ+ consumers as a valuable audience, not just a social issue.

ICYMI: In case you missed it, check out the thought-leadership and happenings around Stagwell making news:

• Sport Beach reveals final athlete line-up and schedule for Cannes Lions 2026 (Stagwell)
• Crypto becomes hot-button election issue (Harris Poll)
• Unreliable childcare is a mental health issue (Harris Poll)
• Summer is the season that breaks working parents (Harris Poll)
• How should you meaningfully incorporate AI into your daily workflow? (Allison and Ray Day)
• Jamie Dowd named Allison’s new Global President, Health + Wellness (Allison)

By: Ray Day

CONTACT:

Ray Day
ray.day@stagwellglobal.com 

We wanted to share our latest consumer and business insights, based on research from Stagwell and Allison Worldwide. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

TRAVELERS ARE GOING SOLO THIS SUMMER

As summer vacation season ramps up, expect to see more of us flying and traveling solo, based on our Harris Poll research with Mastercard.

• 39% of international travelers already have flown solo on a trip.
• 20% of all travelers say their last trip was alone.
• 35% say they are considering a solo trip in the future.
• January 2026 had 1.6 million online searches for “solo travel” – jumping 230% during the last decade.
• Going solo doesn’t mean going alone: 7 in 10 international leisure travelers are interested in solo experiences designed to connect them with like-minded people.
• Solo travelers also skew more adventurous: 84% express interest in off-the-beaten-path or emerging destinations, compared with 78% of those traveling with others.
• THE NEW BUSINESS TRIP: 81% of business travelers have extended an international business trip for non-work purposes.
• GEN ALPHA CALLS THE SHOTS: 76% of parents of Gen Alpha kids (children born between 2010 and 2024) say their children have significant input on international destination choices, compared with 59% of parents of other generations.
  

TRAVELERS WANT ONE-STOP BOOKING

Global travelers increasingly want to plan more of their trips in one place, driven by both convenience and savings, based on a new Harris Poll survey with Expedia Group.

• 77% of travelers say they are at least somewhat likely to book more than one part of their next trip on the same platform.
• Younger travelers are especially aligned with this, with 83% of Gen Z travelers likely to book multiple trip elements on one platform.
• Cost is a major driver: 81% would be at least somewhat likely to bundle trip elements if it meant additional savings.
• Travel demand is becoming more experiential: 55% saying authentic, immersive travel is more important today than it was five years ago.
• 69% say having a rental car helps them experience destinations like a local.

ECONOMIC ANXIETY RISES

Americans are growing more worried about inflation, their own finances and the long-term impact of global instability on everyday costs, according to our May Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll.

• 56% say the country is on the wrong track, up from 53% the prior month.
• 59% say the economy is on the wrong track, up from 57% the prior month.
• 47% say their personal financial situation is worsening, up 5 points from the prior month.
• Inflation and the economy remain Americans’ top concerns, while concerns about the national debt and federal budget deficits rose 4 points.
• Price hikes are highly visible: 88% have noticed an increase in the price of gasoline, and 85% have noticed grocery and food prices rising.
• 53% say war and geopolitical conflicts are the biggest reason for higher gas prices.

PRIMARY CARE IS VALUED YET OUT OF REACH

Americans overwhelmingly believe in the importance of having a primary care doctor, even as many struggle to access one when they need care, according to new research from The Harris Poll and HealthDay.

• 89% of Americans say it is important to have an ongoing relationship with a primary care doctor who oversees their medical care.
• 84%  say they have a primary care doctor, yet 58% report being unable to access care when needed because of appointment shortages or long wait times.
• Among the 15% of Americans without a family doctor, 45% say they have experienced direct negative health impacts. Specifically, 15% were unable to get a diagnosis, and 14% ended up in the ER due to an untreated illness or injury.
• For those without a family doctor, urgent care (40%) is the top fallback when medical help is needed, followed by the ER (26%).
• Family doctors remain the most trusted first stop for medical questions, with 28% saying they turn there first, ahead of internet search engines (21%) and friends/family (14%).
• Access barriers remain significant: 38% say it’s hard to find a doctor they like, 36% say doctors aren’t taking new patients, 36% say insurance won’t cover the doctor they want, and 25% say there simply aren’t enough primary care providers.

ICYMI: In case you missed it, check out the thought-leadership and happenings around Stagwell making news:

• Most Dogs Aren’t Getting Enough Walks (Harris Poll)
• Consumers Can See Through Your AI Marketing Slop (Harris Poll)
• Teams, not players, still drive engagement engines in sports (National Research Group)
• Nearly half of Americans with auto insurance and homeowners insurance are stressed about their premium costs (Harris Poll)
• Three Quarters of Americans Want ‘On/Off’ Switch for AI Surveillance (Harris Poll)
• Join Anthropic and Google DeepMind for PRSA’s next AI Pulse webinar (Ray Day and PRSA)
  

By: Ray Day

CONTACT:

Ray Day
ray.day@stagwellglobal.com 

We wanted to share our latest consumer and business insights, based on research from Stagwell and Allison Worldwide. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

WHAT HELPS AND HURTS JOB INTERVIEWS

Candidates point to references as the leading job-interview advantage, while tardiness remains the biggest dealbreaker, according to new research from The Harris Poll and Express Employment Professionals. 

• Top signals that help job candidates stand out include references who can vouch for qualifications (45%), showing passion for the role (42%) and having a personal referral from someone at the company (40%).
• 38% of job seekers say they try to stand out by having a resume optimized for applicant tracking systems and search engine optimization.
• 36% say they keep the resume concise, while one third look to show creativity.
• Job seekers say clear dealbreakers that can kill an opportunity include being late to an interview (54%), being rude during an interview (53%) and dressing unprofessionally (51%).
• Other red flags: Using unprofessional body language during an interview (49%); having multiple jobs in a short period of time (42%); being uninformed about the position during an interview (41%); having large, unexplained gaps between work experiences (38%); being uninformed about the company during an interview (36%); not asking questions during an interview (32%), and having few or no references (31%).
• While being dishonest is never recommended, 22% say they have listed skills on their resume that they did not have. This is most common among Millennials (27%).
• See also: 6 in 10 Workers Say They Have a Toxic Boss

AI-POWERED SMALL BUSINESSES LEAD THE PACK

Small, service-based businesses that adopt AI outearn their peers, based on a new Harris Poll study with Honeybook.

• Small businesses using AI earn five times, or $400,000, more per year than those that don’t.
• Customers walk away from small businesses for non-AI reasons: 36% say businesses are hard to reach, 32% cite lack of professionalism and 30% cite inconsistent quality.
• Meanwhile, customer decisions are most influenced by consistency (51%) and availability when needed (42%).
• 49% of customers expect small businesses to use AI-powered tools to improve quality during the next five years.
• 46% expect AI to accelerate turnaround times.
• See also: Agentic AI is your personal and budget-friendly travel agent

MILLENNIALS ACCELERATE GIVING

Millennials are now the most generous and engaged donor segment, according to the 2026 Giving Signals Report from The Harris Poll and Bloomerang.

• Three fourths of Millennials plan to give more this year, compared with 49% of Gen X and 36% of Baby Boomers.
• 80% of Millennials plan to give to at least one new nonprofit.
• While most donors (97%) say caring about their community motivates them to give, only 68% cite having money to give as a motivator.
• 94% of donors say they’re motivated to give when an organization tells them exactly where their money will go. 

ICYMI: In case you missed it, check out the thought-leadership and happenings around Stagwell making news:

•  The Sport Beach lineup at Cannes is heating up (Stagwell)

• More Americans are putting trust in sportsbooks and prediction markets (Harris Poll)

• Join Allison at the Axios AI Summit in NYC Next Week (Allison)

• Why ‘Just Ask AI’ Isn’t a Research Strategy (Code and Theory)

• Three in four people with bladder cancer say they hide the emotional impact of the disease (Harris Poll)

By: Ray Day

CONTACT:

Ray Day
ray.day@stagwellglobal.com 

We wanted to share our latest consumer and business insights, based on research from Stagwell and Allison Worldwide. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

U.S. CORPORATE REPUTATION IMPROVES

U.S. companies with the biggest reputation gains are those previously caught up in culture wars and consumer backlash, based on the seventh annual Axios Harris Poll 100.

• More than half of the 100 most visible U.S. companies have improved reputations this year.
• Back at the top for the first time since 2021 is the online pet brand Chewy.
• Most improved this year are UnitedHealth Group (up 7.6 points), Tesla (up 5.9), Southwest Airlines (up 5.5), SpaceX (up 5.3), Wells Fargo (up 4.8), Anheuser-Busch InBev (up 4.5), Shein (up 4.5), Meta (up 4.1), Airbnb (up 3.6) and Boeing (up 3.5).
• Top decliners include UPS (down 3.5 points), Microsoft (down 2.8), BP (down 2.8) and Temu (down 2.5).
• Americans’ top-ranked brands often are associated with wellness and optimism and perceived as more politically neutral. Top wellness brands include Alo Yoga (#7) and Athletic Brewing (#8).
• The top-ranked auto brands include Toyota Motor Corporation (#2), which is up from #4 last year, and Honda Motor Company (#6), up 7 spots.
• Major media companies and social platforms (including Fox, Comcast, TikTok, X and Meta) drew relatively unfavorable sentiment overall.
• Eli Lilly is the top-ranked pharmaceutical company (#13) and is now more associated with GLP-1 weight-loss drugs than with its COVID treatments.
• See also: Axios Harris Poll 100 shows shift toward politically neutral brands

2 IN 3 PREDICT A RECESSION

Today, 66% of Americans believe the U.S. economy will enter a recession in the next 12 months – up from 59% in February – based on our Harris Poll monthly Consumer Financial Resilience Index with NerdWallet.

• 75% of middle earners (with household incomes from $50,000 to $74,900) are most likely to see a recession – compared with 67% of those making less than $50,000, 61% of those in the $75,000-$99,900 range and 64% of those with household incomes of $100,000 or more.
• 37% will rely on credit to manage at least some of their expenses this month.
• 63% have enough cash on hand to cover an unexpected $1,000 expense, should one arise this month.

HOPE IS TODAY’S CURE

In a polarized country, hope is one of the few values Americans still share, according to new research from The Harris Poll and St. Jude.

• 96% have taken at least one deliberate action in the past year to cultivate hope.
• 68% feel hopeful about their own future and that of their friends and family.
• 84% say nonprofit organizations give them hope, and 77% are more likely to support organizations that inspire hope.
• 72% report that giving more frequently helps them feel they are making a difference.

HISPANIC VOTERS UNDECIDED

Economic pressures, culturally authentic outreach and AI‑related job fears will factor into U.S. voting decisions this year, according to a new poll from Harris Poll and TelevisaUnivision.

• 52% of Hispanic registered voters in 17 battleground congressional districts say they are undecided or open to changing their vote – making this group pivotal in tight races.
• 70% say candidate appearances on Spanish‑language media signal that Hispanic voters matter, 59% say it makes them feel a candidate cares, and 44% say communicating key issues in Spanish is important.
• Nine in 10 report cost of living as their top issue, and 80% are supporting family members outside their home.
• 53% will back the candidate who best understands what they’re going through, which is more important than party or policy details.

ICYMI: In case you missed it, check out the thought-leadership and happenings around Stagwell making news:

• The modern traveler has a new itinerary: Smarter, bolder, more personal than ever (Harris Poll and Mastercard)
• 80% of Americans want AI workforce programs now — and Washington hasn’t delivered (Harris Poll)
• Four in five employers say entry-level roles demand more skills than ever before (Harris Poll)
• Gen Z not boycotting U.S. travel, except for these two reasons (Harris Poll)
• Weekly viewership amongst streamers is higher for those who watch news and sports (HarrisX)
• What’s next for the auto industry? (Allison and HarrisX)