On today's special episode, we continue our monthly show where we discuss the biggest trends of the moment and the newest research, sprinkle in some analysis, and bundle it up into a quiz. Every month, three of our analysts representing their respective coverage area teams compete against each other. (We also encourage you to play along at home.) We keep a running score and will crown a winning team at the end of the year. Today, we cover how much the world is traveling again, how Amazon Prime Day did, the staying power of Threads, and more. Tune in to the discussion with this month's contestants: our analysts Carina Perkins, Max Willens, and Yory Wurmser.
US shoppers prefer to make their luxury purchases abroad: Spending from American tourists in Europe helped offset sales declines in the Americas for LVMH, Kering, Prada, and more.
US consumers pull back on discretionary purchases: Despite real wage and consumer sentiment gains, a wide array of retail companies have reported a shift in spending patterns.
On today's episode, we discuss whether the summer travel boom will last, how the economic climate is influencing how people think about vacations, and the changes in how people choose where they go on vacation. "In Other News," we discuss whether folks want gamified shopping experiences and how brands should—and shouldn't—text you. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Zach Goldner and director of forecasting Oscar Orozco.
Airlines can’t keep up with booming travel demand: With more travelers heading overseas and paying for premium seats, United, Delta, and American Airlines are reaping the rewards.
Airbnb wants to become the ‘ultimate AI concierge’: The technology could help increase platform engagement and bookings while also introducing privacy, security, ethical, and regulatory headaches.
New vehicle sales grew between 12% and 14% in the first half of 2023: By exceeding analysts’ expectations, the auto sector is providing more evidence that the US economy remains fairly strong.
Some 29% of US adults are taking less expensive trips this summer due to inflation, according to Bankrate. Slightly fewer (28%) are engaging in cheaper activities as inflation, which has cooled slightly, wears on.
Despite inflation, US consumers are traveling this summer: While cutting back on goods such as luxury purchases, American are willing to shell out on European vacations.
It partnered with FreedomPay and Marriott as part of a wider shift to grow volume by focusing on payments for bigger restaurant and hospitality brands.
GetYourGuide and Hostaway score massive funding rounds as leisure travel demand holds up: But industry profit margins are under pressure as business travel remains below prepandemic levels.
Memorial Day air traffic surpassed prepandemic levels, setting the stage for a busy summer season: That’s one reason American Airlines raised its Q2 earnings outlook.
The travel booking site partnered with Stripe and Klarna to offer BNPL and smoother bank transfers.
Consumers are shifting spending to services as China’s post-lockdown economic recovery continues: But a full rebound is looking increasingly far off as confidence remains low.
The majority of Americans plan to prioritize leisure travel spending: Hilton, Delta, and United are among the travel-related companies that are bullish about the rest of the year.
VCs flock to hypersonic planes: Aviation startups are planning ahead for decarbonization regulation to hit air travel. Destinus’ hydrogen-powered hypersonic jet is ultrafast and carbon-free, but there’s a catch.
Nearly half of US millennials are members of a travel loyalty or rewards program, the highest among all generations, according to a Morning Consult survey. The higher their income, the more likely US adults are to belong to such a program—more than three-quarters of those earning $100,000 or more hold a membership.