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. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

COLLEGE VERSUS TRADE SCHOOLS

A greater percentage of Americans would advise high school graduates to attend a vocational or trade school (33%) rather than a four-year college or university (28%), according to our Harris Poll survey with the American Staffing Association.

• Baby Boomers (41%), Gen X (37%) and Millennials (31%) recommended vocational and trade school career paths.
• Gen Z is the only cohort that recommended a four-year degree (36%) over attending a trade or vocational school (22%).
• A smaller number suggest grads enter the workforce (13%) or find an internship (11%).
• Traditional universities are under the gun: Aside from the campus politics and threatened halt of federal grant money, 80% globally believe that new skills and credentials will be as valued as a traditional university degree by 2035.
• 75% believe AI will disrupt their future career.

THE RISE (AND FALL?) OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES

While interest in electric vehicles has nearly tripled in the past decade, the elimination of tax incentives is affecting purchase consideration, according to our new Harris Poll report.

• 31% of consumers say they are likely to purchase an EV (up from 13% in 2013).
• The top reasons for owning an EV, according to current owners, are having a positive environmental impact (34%), having a 10-year battery warranty (25%) and federal tax credits (21%).
• 24% of consumers who are at least somewhat likely to consider purchasing an EV would strongly reconsider (or no longer consider) making that purchase without the tax incentive.
• 23% of Boomers cite the federal tax credit as a reason for purchasing an EV, compared with 14% of Gen Z/Young Millennials and 18% of total consumers.

TARIFFS HIT RETAIL

The Harris Poll’s Tariff Retail Report highlights Americans’ ongoing economic uncertainty in the wake of months of inflation:

• 72% of Americans are concerned about tariffs (up 11 points since January).
• 66% think the U.S. economy will take years to recover from the tariffs.
• More consumers blame businesses for higher prices (39%) than the government (30%) and personal financial decisions (30%).
• 63% believe companies are taking advantage of the economic climate to boost profits.

SUMMER LIKE IT’S 1999

Americans are nostalgic for ice cream, less screen time and lower prices, according to our Harris Poll survey with Instacart.

• 57% of Americans say the last day of school is among the things they look forward to most during the summer.
• A few of the most appealing elements of the 1990s are the lack of smart phones and social media (53%), the sense of simplicity and nostalgia (39%) and the food and snacks (32%).
• 62% say ice cream reminds them of their childhood summers.
• 64% want their kids to experience the fun summer treats they loved as kids.
• 84% of parents say it’s more important that their kids minimize screen time during the summer.

GAME ON IN CANNES

Stagwell’s SPORT BEACH returns to Cannes next week as the official sport partner of the festival with a powerful lineup of programming at the intersection of sports, creativity and culture. 

• This year’s roster of speakers and panelists include tennis icon and trailblazer Serena Williams, sports broadcaster Erin Andrews, long-distance runner and Olympic Gold Medalist Sir Mo Farah, NBA legend Chris Paul, MLB All-Star Alex Rodriguez and George Russell, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team driver.
• In addition to SPORT BEACH’S daily swim and run clubs, Peloton and select instructors will host engaging fitness experiences throughout the week.
• To register, view the programming calendar, and see the full roster, visit sportbeach.com.

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• Father’s Day gifts: 10 brands with high brand equity among dads
• Your Drink Tells Your Age: Keurig Dr Pepper-Harris Poll
• Teachers Sound The Alarm On Literacy: Nemours Children’s Health-Harris Poll
• Companies are preparing for a potential rise in employee turnover
• Fashion Forward: Emerging Trends in Apparel Purchases

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. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

IS HOME OWNERSHIP JUST A DREAM?

Financial anxieties and misconceptions make home ownership feel unattainable to Americans, according to our Harris Poll survey with KB Home.

• 83% of Americans believe owning a home is a significant milestone.
• Excitement (47%), pride (43%) and motivation (28%) are the top emotions associated with homebuying.
• However, 89% feel anxious about affordability and the homebuying process (93% for current renters).
• 74% are willing to make lifestyle sacrifices to afford the home they want.
• 54% believe they are in a worse position to buy a home than previous generations.
• 28% are anxious about whether now is a good time to buy.
• Americans’ top financial anxieties are affording a down payment (45%), knowing how much they can afford (43%), making monthly payments (42%) and finding the best mortgage rate (42%).
• 69% falsely believe mortgage rates are at an all-time high.
• Nearly half don’t know key homebuying terms such as APR (44%) and PMI (49%).
• Gen Z (25%) and Millennials (23%) feel anxious about not knowing where to start in the homebuying process.

FREE WIFI, PLEASE

New York City residents rely on tech companies for accessible Wi-Fi according to our HarrisX research with LinkNYC.

• 55% of New York City residents use free public Wi-Fi monthly.
• 30% rely on it weekly.
• 35% don’t have unlimited cellular data plans.
• 51% run out of data at least one month per year.
• 76% approve of New York City’s use of technology to deliver public services.
• 78% say tech companies have positively impacted the city.
• 71% express interest in expanded, city-wide technology and AI programs.

WOMEN WANT DOULAS

Lack of access to doulas is a critical issue in the maternal health care crisis, according to our Harris Poll research.

• 73% of women believe that insurance companies should provide coverage to employ a doula (81% for women aged 18-34).
• 21% of women who have given birth have used a doula, and 90% found it helpful.
• 19% of women who have given birth wanted to employ a doula but couldn’t.
• 23% say a doula would have improved their pregnancy and birth experience.
• 30% felt they did not have control over their labor and delivery.
• Women ages 18-34 are more likely (51%) to engage a doula than older women ages 35+ (15%).
• Reasons for not employing a doula include lack of education and resources (65%) and financial constraints/lack of insurance coverage (35%).

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• PRSA Member Monday Session on Building Reputation Today
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• Organic posts and brand-voice tests: how advertisers are approaching Threads
• From hype to human impact: expanding the role of UX research in the age of AI

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. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

PRICING OVER POLITICS

Americans want businesses to work harder on pricing and less on politics to improve reputations, based the Axios Harris Poll 100 annual reputation study.

• 8 in 10 consumers say they care more about lower prices than politics.
• Two thirds say they aren’t interested in supporting companies that have become too political.
• No. 1 ranked Trader Joe’s, known for affordable specialty foods, registers an excellent reputation score of 82.1 (82.9 among Democrats and 81.1 among Republicans).
• Arizona Beverage Co., known for its giant 99-cent cans of tea, also is among the top 10 in reputation among both political parties.
• The most politically polarizing brands are near the bottom of the top 100 list (SpaceX at rank 86, Tesla at 95, X at 98 and the Trump Organization at 99).
• LEARN MORE: If you and your company/team would like a briefing on this year’s corporate reputation results – including data on many companies that did not make the 100 most visible list – please contact us.
• See also: Companies that kept DEI commitments saw higher reputation scores in 2025

WHAT CONSUMERS WANT

Consumers expect affordable pricing, quality and innovation from brands today, based on our QuestDIY by the Harris Poll survey.

• Affordable pricing (78%) and product quality (72%) are the most important decision factors when choosing a brand.
• 30% of consumers say innovation is an important factor when choosing a brand.
• 54% say it’s important for brands to consistently innovate.
• Consumers expect the newest products from food and beverage brands (36%), followed by restaurants (32%), entertainment products (27%), clothing products (26%) and beauty products (25%).
• 61% would switch to a competitor that offers more innovative products.

TARIFF CONCERNS CONTINUE

Consumers continue to be skeptical of the impact of tariffs on their personal finances and the economy, according to our Harris Poll survey with Bloomberg.

• 56% say their finances would be better if Trump’s tariffs had not been implemented.
• 69% expect higher costs for everyday goods as a result of the tariffs.
• 49% expect the tariffs to be bad for the economy.
• 30% say the levies will be an economic boon.
• Half say the economy is worse than in 2024 (66% of Democrats, 25% of Republicans).
• 3 in 5 report cutting back due to concerns about a recession, including eating out less (70%) and spending less on entertainment (57%).

SUMMER VACATION, AT HOME?

Summer travel sentiments are high, yet financial concerns and foreign policy shifts have affected Americans’ plans, according to our Harris Poll survey with The Points Guy.

• 77% of Americans plan to travel this year (consistent with 76% in February).
• 70% plan to travel domestically, and 28% plan to travel internationally.
• 32% plan to travel more than last year (yet down from 35% in February).
• 34% plan to spend more on travel this year.
• Men (41%) are planning to spend more on travel this year than women (27%).
• 52% say the current economy has affected their travel plans this year.
• 14% have postponed or cancelled travel plans due to the current economy.
• 30% say changing U.S. foreign policy has affected their international travel plans this year.
• See also: Preferred Hotels & Resorts Launches the Luxury Travel Report 2025

GEN Z VS. RETIREMENT

Retiring at age 65 seems like an unattainable goal for Gen Z, based on our Harris Poll survey with Nationwide.

• 44% of Gen Z investors (ages 18-28) feel behind in their retirement savings.
• 38% believe the retirement age of 65 is not relevant in today’s economic environment.
• 48% plan to work longer than age 65.
• 40% are worried about their ability to pay monthly bills over the next year.
• While 77% are concerned about a financial recession in the next year, 40% do not have a strategy in place to protect their assets against market risk.
• 17% are spending more on leisure at this age because they might never be able to retire.
• 62% of financial advisors believe Gen Z is more financially literate than previous generations.

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• Americans to business: Take AI slow and do it right

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. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

REPUTATION IN DECLINE

Businesses are being blamed for higher prices, and it’s affecting their reputations, according to our 2025 Axios Harris Poll 100 reputation survey.

• 46% of all U.S. corporate reputations declined.
• 40% of Americans say their overall opinion of companies is declining, with most pointing to inflation as the top reason.
• Tesla, SpaceX, UnitedHealth Group and JCPenney saw the sharpest declines.
• Trader Joe’s, Patagonia, Microsoft, Toyota and Costco were among the top five.
• New names to the list include Arizona Beverage Company (#7), Ulta Beauty (#27), SoFi (#41), DeepSeek (#46) and UFC (#82).
• 3M, Subaru and Mattel fell off the list this year.
• 79% of Americans say brands with the best reputation prioritize consumer wallets.
• 77% Americans say companies often sell lower-quality products and services while charging higher prices.
• 70% believe they are taking further advantage of inflation to increase their profit margins.
• 60% feel companies will use tariffs to raise prices more than needed to boost profits.

OPTIMISM GROWS

Americans are feeling more positive about the economy and their personal finances after tariff rollbacks, based on our May Harvard CAPS / Harris Poll.

• 42% say the country is on the right track – up from 39% in April.
• 39% say the economy is on the right track – up from 37% in April and 38% in March.
• 51% say the U.S. economy is strong today (highest since July 2021).
• 39% say their personal finances are getting worse, down from 45% in April.
• Price increases/inflation and the economy/jobs remain the country’s two major issues (34% and 31%).
• 63% support cutting the size of the government.
• 55% say DOGE has been effective.
• 67% (steady with April) support the goal of cutting $1 trillion in expenditures.

DOWNFALL OF TECH INDUSTRY

National Research Group’s new technology report, the Tech Policy Tightrope, examines today’s fragmented tech landscape and predictions for the next few years. Key findings:

• Increased visibility of tech leaders and CEOs carries significant business and reputational risk.
• “Responsible AI” and “competitive AI” are not mutually exclusive as the U.S. explores how to balance ethical development and implementation with complex regulations.
• As policymaking shifts to the states, California, Texas and New York are emerging as key battleground states for AI, privacy and crypto.
• The explosive growth of AI and its impact on the energy grid have made tech policy and energy policy converge.

ANIME ATTRACTING AUDIENCE

Teenage anime fans outnumber Kendrick Lamar fans today,  according to our National Research Group report with Crunchyroll.

• 59% of teenagers identify as anime fans, higher than those who identify as Kendrick Lamar fans (48%).
• Teenage fans consider anime to be “meaningful” to who they are (40%) and say it has influenced their outlook on life (30%).
• 78% say anime has strengthened their personal relationships.

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• Summer vacation travel: United Airlines boosts purchase intent with a better in-flight experience
• Empowering women in maternity care: Challenging the status quo
• Revisiting ‘Future of News’ one year later: Stagwell investigates news advertising
• Google Marketing Live POV: Reengineering Search for an AI-First World

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. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

ANXIOUS AMERICANS

Americans are feeling the strain of rising costs, with financial concerns delaying life goals, according to our Harris Poll with The Guardian.

• 65% of Americans think the cost of living has worsened since the start of the year.
• While 33% of Republicans believe the U.S. economy is worsening, 64% of Independents today believe it is worse, more in line with Democrats (73%).
• 29% of Americans – including 39% of Democrats, 28% of Independents and 21% of Republicans – say tariffs will do the most economic harm.
• 78% have noticed higher grocery prices during the last few months.
• 6 in 10 say the economy has affected/delayed at least one major life goal – especially buying a new home (75%), making a large purchase (66%) and switching jobs (63%).
• Of those who planned to have a child in 2025, 32% are unable to afford it, and 33% are uncomfortable having a child in the current economy.

YOUTH SPORTS = GAME CHANGERS

Parents recognize and prioritize the value of youth sports, according to our Harris Poll research with First Tee.  

• 88% of parents are making room in their budget for youth activities.
• Most parents say playing sports helps children build confidence and social skills (94%), helps build character (92%) and teaches them important life skills (90%).
• 92% of parents say they have seen firsthand how youth sports can shape a child’s future.
• 91% say the impact of sports lasts a lifetime.
• 67% say they wouldn’t be where they are today without the influence of coaches.
• 69% believe there aren’t enough female coaches or mentors in youth sports.
• 84% hope that their child can participate as a mentor or coach in a youth sports program in the future.

FACTS ON FAST FOOD

Frequent QSR diners value limited-time and seasonal menu items over nutritional value, according to the Harris Poll’s 2025 QSR & Fast Casual Industry Snapshot.

• 57% of U.S. adults order items from a quick service restaurant (QSR) at least once a week.
• 26% order from a QSR at least once a month.
• 31% of frequent diners have gone to a QSR to try a limited-time menu item.
• 18% feel like they are missing out if they see a limited-time menu item they haven’t tried.
• 27% like it when QSRs put a twist on a menu item they already enjoy.
• Frequent diners are most excited about holiday-themed releases (76%), seasonal flavors (74%), trendy food items (70%) and specialty ingredients (68%).
• Quality of food (71%) and price of food (70%) are the most important aspects of dining at a QSR.
• Only 19% cited nutritional value as important.

GEN Z WANTS TO DISCONNECT

Consumers’ desire to interact in-person is changing the retail landscape and their online habits, according to our Harris Poll report with Quad.

• 78% of Americans would rather have an in-person social life than a digital one.
• 81% say digital detoxes should be routine.
• 81% of Gen Z wish it was easier to disconnect from digital devices.
• 84% of Gen Z and Millennials value brands that seamlessly blend technology and physical experiences.
• 76% say physical retail experiences help them connect deeper with people and brands.
• 86% of Gen Z and Millennials say touching and feeling products are essential to their purchase decisions.
• 51% of Gen Z and Millennials are likely to make a return visit after a wow-worthy in-store experience.
• 63% of consumers have planned a trip around visiting a store or brand.

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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. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

BREAKING THE RETURN RULES

U.S. and UK consumers are finding ways to take advantage of retailers that have lenient return policies, according to our Harris Poll survey with Forter.

• 68% of U.S. and UK consumers believe retailers make it easy to abuse flexible return policies.
• 49% admit to abusing retailers’ policies in the last 12 months.
• 29% are turning to policy abuse to avoid paying full price.
• 30% say they exploit flexible return policies most for clothing and expensive items they could not otherwise afford (46% for younger consumers).
• 63% say they rely on retailers’ promotions and free perks more now than in the past.
• 16% say they have stopped shopping with a retailer because they made their return policy stricter.

BUSINESS LEADERS SOUND THE ALARM

US. business leaders’ concerns are growing about America’s global competitiveness and their own companies’ performance, based on our Harris Poll research with the Leadership Now Project.

• 84% of senior business leaders express concern over the current political and legal environment’s impact on their business.
• 45% say recent executive orders and policies have negatively affected their business’s competitiveness, while 33% report a positive impact.
• Business leaders feel more comfortable expressing their views about government policy within their company (83%) or industry (78%) than publicly (75%).
• Among business leaders who feel uncomfortable expressing their views on government policy, 51% worry about reputational risk to their company or themselves (38%).
• Business leaders are split on whether the current business climate under the Trump administration is better (39%) or worse (37%) than they expected.

THIRD OF CONSUMERS ‘JUST GETTING BY’ FINANCIALLY

With economic concerns growing, half of Americans feel that, no matter how hard they try to move ahead financially, something always comes up to set them back, based on our Harris Poll survey with the Wells Fargo Foundation.

• 48% feel like they are constantly treading water financially and that any unexpected expense could pull them under.
• 33% report they are just getting by financially.
• 63% worry that partisanship and volatility in the U.S. government will negatively affect their personal finances in the coming year.
• 57% say current uncertainty in the U.S. economy makes it impossible to achieve their long-term financial goals.

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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. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

AMERICANS GROW MORE NEGATIVE

U.S. consumers are growing more negative about the macro economy and their personal financial situation, based on our April Harvard CAPS / Harris Poll.

• 39% say the country is on the right track overall – down from 41% in March and 42% in February.
• 37% say the economy is on the right track, down from 38% in March and February.
• 45% say their personal financial situation is becoming worse – up sharply from 41% in March and February.
• Price increases and inflation (38%, steady with last month) and the economy/jobs (33%, up 1 point) remain the country’s two major issues.
• 47% oppose President Trump’s tariff program, while 45% support it.
• Americans cite increases in prices of everyday purchases (41%) and their retirement money being at risk (24%) as the top ways tariff policies already have affected them.
• 39% expect the U.S. economy to grow worse in the next 12 months.
• 67% support the goal of cutting $1 trillion of government expenditures.
• 57% do not believe Elon Musk and DOGE will be able to hit the goal by the end of the year.
• 55% say Musk and DOGE have gone about making government spending cuts in the wrong way.
• 58% believe Musk should resign after his six-month special government employee status ends.
• See also: PRSA forum gives education and advice on the economy and tariffs

GROCERY PRICES AFFECT EVERYTHING

The pressures inflation puts on the retail industry is causing a disconnect between shoppers and business operators, according to our Harris Poll study with Rakuten.

• 55% of shoppers are looking for the lowest prices when shopping.
• 77% think prices will continue to increase throughout 2025.
• 19% cannot afford to pay their household bills.
• 17% cannot afford necessities like food and gas.
• 36% say they can afford all their daily expenses in addition to non-essential items.
• 41% plan to shop less than in previous years, and 39% cite inflation as having the most impact on their 2025 shopping plans.
• 57% say rising grocery prices has caused them to cut back on non-essential shopping.
• 41% are spending more at the grocery store to purchase from the same brands they’re accustomed to, while 39% are shifting to cheaper alternatives.
• 13% say they are completely avoiding buying products affected by large price hikes, such as eggs.

RETIREMENT WOES

The burden of retirement is affecting single people more than partnered investors, according to our Harris Poll research with Nationwide.

• 1 in 4 single investors say they did not plan to be alone in retirement.
• 22% are scared to grow old alone.
• 37% say they experience more strain or financial hardship compared to their married or partnered peers.
• 18% of non-retired single investors don’t know if they’ll ever be able to retire.

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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. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

HITTING THE BRAKES ON CAR BUYING

Americans are preparing for a surge in auto prices with new tariffs, and some already are holding off on buying, according to new research from HarrisX and Allison Worldwide.

• U.S. consumers anticipate vehicle prices will rise 14.4% during the next year.
• 17% say they are “very likely” to buy a vehicle in the next 12 months – down from 21% in February.
• 41% are “very unlikely” to purchase – up from 28%.
• 56% believe it is a bad time to buy a car, up from 46% two months ago.
• 53% expect auto loan interest rates to rise during the next year.
• American-made cars remain most preferred, with 71% saying they’re likely to buy an American-made brand (down from 80% in February).
• Openness to buying Japanese auto brands dropped to 47% today from 59% in February; German brands are at 37% today from 47% in February; and Korean brands are at 32% today from 39% in February.
• 62% are most likely to buy a gas or diesel-powered vehicle (similar to 63% in February).
• 15% prefer a non-plug-in hybrid (down from 17% in February), and 9% prefer an electric vehicle (similar to 8% in February).
• See also: Americans Now Split on Trump’s Tariffs as Most Expect Higher Prices and a Short-Term Recession, New HarrisX Poll Shows
• 📅 YOU’RE INVITED: Education on tariffs and the economy from PRSA

HOLDING BRANDS ACCOUNTABLE

Consumers – especially younger generations – continue to place a strong emphasis on brands’ social values, according to our Harris Poll research with Ad Age.

• 1 in 5 U.S. adults say they’ve stopped supporting a brand because its approach to DEI either contradicted or reversed previous efforts.
• 19% disengaged when the brand’s stance didn’t feel authentic.
• 70% now expect brands to follow through on the social stances they take.
• 64% said a company’s openness in its advocacy is more important today than in the past (76% for Gen Z).
• 50% of Gen Z say they are more likely to purchase from a brand that prioritizes social issues (56%), green initiatives (55%) and DEI (50%) in their business practices.

LOSING THE LOVE FOR TIKTOK

Most American don’t care if TikTok shuts down, based on new HarrisX research.

• Two thirds of Americans say that are not concerned about TikTok possibly shutting down in the U.S.
• Among users, however, 61% are concerned, and 39% are not.
• 39% think TikTok should be allowed to continue operating in the U.S. without any changes.
• 34% think ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, should have to sell its U.S. business to another company to keep the app running in America.
• 27% think TikTok’s U.S. operation should be shut down regardless of who owns it.
• See also: Snapchat scores big with NCAA fans, boosts brand equity during March Madness

WHAT SAVINGS?

While nearly half of Americans have savings goals, nearly a quarter are unsure how much they’re actually saving each month, based on our Harris Poll 2025 Savings Report with NerdWallet.

• 86% of Americans have savings accounts.
• 40% have at least one savings goal for 2025.
• 23% are unsure how much they’re saving.
• 46% are saving for an emergency fund (33% for vacations).

EASTER EATS

As Easter and Passover approach, the Harris Poll and Instacart explored Americans’ traditions and festive food preferences.

• 76% plan to celebrate Easter or Passover this year.
• 59% say cultural and family traditions are a top influence.
• 41% will host guests for a meal.
• 48% will celebrate at another person’s home.
• 35% say roasted lamb is their least favorite Easter dish.
• 35% say jelly beans are their favorite Easter candy.

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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. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

WORKPLACES ARE MEANER THAN EVER

The rise of poor behavior in the workplace is pushing employees to leave, according to our Harris Poll survey with Express Employment Professionals.

• 30% of employed U.S. job seekers say employees at their company are more confrontational than they were three years ago.
• 22% have seen a rise in “being mean” to others at work during the past year.
• The trend is particularly pronounced among male job seekers (34%) versus female (23%)
• 50% of hiring managers report increased poor employee behavior.
• 74% regularly witness toxic traits.
• 62% of job seekers feel companies should have signage to “remind people to be nice to one another.”

HEALTH IS WEALTH

Americans are looking to improve their financial knowledge to reduce stress, based on our Harris Poll report with MoneyLion and Mastercard.

• 66% of U.S. adults have experienced physical health problems due to financial stress.
• 59% have skipped health-related activities due to financial concerns.
• 67% say inflation has negatively affected their physical or mental health.
• 75% of say they would be healthier if they improved their financial literacy.
• 22% believe better financial knowledge would enhance their physical appearance.
• 56% say they face barriers to learning about money and personal finances.

IS CRYPTO THE NEW NORMAL?

Crypto ownership is becoming mainstream, according to our 2025 State of Crypto Holders report from the Harris Poll and the National Cryptocurrency Association.

• 1 in 5 Americans own cryptocurrency.
• More men (67%) own crypto than women (31%).
• The top uses for crypto are shopping for goods and services (39%), buying or using blockchain NFTs (32%), sending money to family (31%) and accepting payments for business (31%).
• 73% feel it’s important for the U.S. to become the global leader in crypto.

MORE AI, LESS BURNOUT

The rise of AI is leading to less physician burnout, according to our Harris Poll survey with Aethnahealth.

• 3 in 10 physicians say AI has the potential to reduce burnout.
• 27% say AI technology is overhyped – down from 40% in 2024.
• The most valuable uses of AI for doctors are transcription services and capabilities (48%) and streamlining administrative tasks (46%).

PAYOUTS GO DIGITAL

Businesses must adapt to the digital landscape to keep up with consumer expectations, according to a new National Research Group report with Onbe.

• Digital payments are now essential, with 98% of Americans using them at least once a month.
• 80% of consumers receive between one and 10 digital payouts a month – separate from payroll and compensation – an 8-point increase from 2024.
• 70% use mobile wallets at least once a week.
• 93% of consumers are using payment apps at least once a month, with PayPal (83%), CashApp (39%) and Venmo (37%) leading the way.
• 59% believe that digital payments are more secure than physical options.

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

• March Harvard Caps / Harris Poll: Trump Approval Rating Drops but 54% Say He is Doing a Better Job Than Biden as President
• Attitudes toward U.S. Relationships with North Korea and China
• 68% of parents with children under 6 say their kids need a ‘detox’ from technology
• Vaccine Hesitancy Is on the Rise. Who Do Americans Trust to Help Them Make Important Vaccine Decisions? A New HealthDay/Harris Poll
• Chobani’s new product offerings appeal to health-conscious Baby Boomers

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. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

FROM BACKLASH TO BOYCOTTS

Americans are continuing to change their consumption and spending habits based on brands’ political alignment, according to our Harris Poll survey with The Guardian.

• 20% of Americans support boycotting firms aligning themselves with President Trump’s agenda.
• 36% of Americans say they are or will be participating in boycotts.
• 53% of Gen Z and 46% of Millennials are participating in boycotts (compared with 30% of Gen X and 22% of Boomers).
• 53% of Black Americans and 51% of Hispanic Americans are boycotting, compared with 29% of white Americans.
• Democrats (49%) are far more likely to boycott than Independents (32%) and Republicans (29%).
• The top reasons Americans cite for boycotting are to show companies that consumers have economic power and influence (53%) and to express their dissatisfaction with current government policies (49%).
• 20% say they are changing their consumption habits permanently.

GROWING UP IN 2025

The prevalence of technology in today’s society means young kids are growing up in a world drastically different from the one of their parents’ childhood, according to a new report by Stagwell’s NRG and Young Storytellers.

• Kids and teens interact the most with their friends by hanging out at school (62%), followed by sending text messages (43%), chatting through social media (35%) and sending links to online content (33%).
• The average age at which Gen Alpha is allowed to own a mobile phone is 11.5 (versus 12 for Gen Z and 14.1 for Millennials).
• 64% of kids and teens think technology makes the world better.
• 45% of kids and teens still enjoy talking to friends in-person more than digitally.
• 58% of parents agree it’s harder to raise kids today than in the world they grew up in.
• 58% of parents say they spend “a lot” of time thinking about how to ensure their kids are watching age-appropriate content on social video platforms.
• 49% of parents with kids under 12 strictly enforce a screentime limit for their kids.

SUMMER TRAVEL SURGES

Despite economic concerns, Americans are still planning to travel this summer, according to a Harris Poll survey with The Points Guy.

• 76% of Americans plan to travel this summer.
• 35% plan to travel more in 2025 than last year.
• 71% plan to travel domestically (29% internationally).
• The top international destination are Europe (53%) and Canada or the Caribbean (30%).
• More than half (51%) say they will spend more on travel in 2025 than in previous years.

ALL IN ON MARCH MADNESS

As March Madness kicks into full gear, a new Harris Poll survey explores American’s viewing habits of the tournament and sports as a unifying force.

• 50% of Americans believe watching and playing sports helps them connect with people from different backgrounds.
• 54% plan to follow either the men’s or women’s tournaments this year.
• 18% will follow both the men’s and women’s tournaments.
• 68% of adults aged 18-34 plan to follow at least one tournament.
• 84%  of those following the men’s tournament are excited to see at least one of the top 16 teams succeed.

FUTURE OF NEWS BREAKFAST

Will you be in Washington, D.C. during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner? Please join us on Friday, April 25 from 8:00-10:00am for breakfast and a discussion on the business of news. Email futureofnews@stagwellglobal.com for additional details and to RSVP.

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

• Five Years After Covid, Survey Data Shows Love for Hybrid or Remote Work
• Measuring Up: Understanding the digital marketing needs and priorities of small-to-mid sized business
• 10 Slides on the Redirection Economy by The Harris Poll