Personal Consumption Expenditures: What 170K Conversations Reveal About How Americans Are Spending
Between June 20 and June 27, 2025, over 170,000 online conversations revealed a widespread shift in American consumer behavior, with growing anxiety about personal consumption expenditures (PCE) due to inflation, labor market instability, and rising costs. Healthcare emerged as the top concern, dominating 25% of discussions, followed closely by cutbacks in discretionary spending like dining and entertainment. Gen Z reported a notable 13% drop in spending, driven by economic pressures including student debt and inflation. Sentiment analysis showed limited optimism, with only 2% of users expressing positive views focused on small business support and intentional purchases. Negative sentiment was fueled by fears around tariffs, oil prices, and AI-related job loss. Overall, consumers are prioritizing essential spending, with 73% expressing worry about declining PCE, signaling a cautious and value-driven financial mindset across the U.S.
