Insight ReportCEO Brief: A Turning Point for US Consumers and the Economy? John Mercer, Head of Global Research and Managing Director of Data-Driven Research October 7, 2025 Reasons to ReadIs the US economy and consumer demand at a turning point in 2025? We explore indicators that suggest so and what this means for retailers and brands. Read this report to discover answers to these and other questions: How are forward-pulled purchases and tariff-driven price increases impacting near-term retail demand? Why could structurally higher inflation and weaker job creation alter long-term consumer behavior? What role is AI investment playing in supporting US economic growth—and is it masking weakness elsewhere? Data in this report include: consumer behavior on forward purchasing; tariff absorption and inflation impacts; job creation and labor force trends; tourism and immigration-driven retail demand; GDP contributions from AI investment. Already a subscriber? Log in You are currently viewing a preview of this report. Please select an access option to view the full report. Hide Options - Show Options + Get unlimited access to all our research with one of our subscription plans. View Subscription Plans or Contact us to purchase this report. Contact us ✕ This document was generated for Other research you may be interested in: Holiday 2025 Survey Insights: Government Shutdown Impacts One-Third of Holiday ShoppersNRF 2025: Retail’s Big Show—Top 10 Tech Themes, from Computer Vision and RFID to AI-Powered Associate DevicesWeekly US Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2025, Week 22: Store Closures Up by 57%Consumer Sentiment Steadies: Weekly US Consumer Sentiment, Week 13, 2025—Infographic
