WHAT THE DATA SAY: 72% say companies are charging higher prices right now to boost profits artificially

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:

WHO’S TO BLAME FOR HIGHER PRICES?

Trust between business and customers has frayed and is expected to become even worse, based on new insights from the Milken Institute-Harris Poll Listening Project.

• 50% of consumers today blame corporations for higher prices of goods and services, while 50% blame the government.
• 72% say companies are charging higher prices or using tariffs (60%) as an excuse to boost their profits artificially.
• Cultural issues also are a problem: 78% say companies are getting into trouble by trying to appease both the left and right.
• 56% say it’s a marketing ploy when companies voice opinions on social issues.
• 47% say it’s okay for companies to occasionally speak out on social issues, yet 24% say companies never should.
• To improve trust, companies need to “stop talking and start doing”: Consumers find it essential that companies demonstrate measurable progress on current commitments on local financial investments (86%), the environment (77%), social causes (75%) and DEI (71%).
• Looking ahead, 71% of Americans believe the relationship between corporations and consumers will become more adversarial.
• 73% say companies underestimate how willing consumers are to withdraw support from brands that violate their values.
• 65% say boycotting companies that don’t align with their values is more effective than ever.

STOP BOTHERING ME!

Consumers are tired of digital ads disrupting their online experience, according to our Harris Poll report with eyeo. 

• 73% of desktop users and 79% of mobile users are frustrated by online ads.
• Consumers say ads in mobile gaming apps are the most frustrating (25%), followed by ads in streaming services (21%), video platforms (15%) and mobile search platforms (14%).
• 61% of consumers are less likely to buy products when they are inundated with ads.
• 43% switch browsers for more ad-blocking capabilities.

BEING HONEST ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH

While conversations on mental health are more common today, the lingering stigma affects both older and younger adults, according to our Harris Poll survey with the American Psychological Association. 

• 88% say having a mental health disorder is nothing to be ashamed about.
• Yet 35% say they would view someone differently if they learned they had a mental health condition.
• 84% say the term “mental illness” still carries a stigma.
• 51% feel positive about their mental health.
• 83% are comfortable talking about their mental health.
• 45% have sought mental health care in the past.
• 52% of younger adults say they have withheld information about their mental health from friends or a health care provider (versus 25% for adults 55 and older).
• 52% of younger adults say they would be comfortable discussing mental health with an AI chatbot (26% for older adults).
• 30% of younger adults would rather talk about mental health anonymously than with someone they know.
• 41% of adults say they’re uncomfortable asking others for help.

MATERNAL HEALTH OVERLOOKED

An extreme gap exists in maternal postpartum care, according to our Harris Poll.

• 77% of women feel there’s not enough focus on health care for mothers after pregnancy and birth.
• 65% feel mothers become an afterthought once the baby arrives.
• 23% say postpartum care was less than adequate (30% for women ages 18-44).
• Only 24% of women who’ve given birth felt they received enough information or resources on postpartum depression.

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