WHAT THE DATA SAY: Monthly costs are up $100 to $750 for most Americans

INFLATION WOES LINGER

Although the U.S. inflation rate is lower, Americans are still suffering personally, according to our Harris Poll research with The Guardian.

• 75% of Americans report soaring prices.
• 74% have seen their regular monthly costs increase by $100.
• 40% have seen their regular monthly costs increase by more than $500.
• Officially, inflation has declined from an annual rate of 3% in January, when President Trump took office, to 2.9% annually in August (the last figures published).

RETIREMENT TRADEOFFS

Financial pressure and rising housing costs mean Millennials are choosing between home ownership and retirement security, according to our Harris Poll research with Nationwide.

• Millennials see housing costs (35%) as the biggest obstacle to retirement.
• 58% of Millennials feel like they must choose between homeownership and retirement security.
• 60% have adjusted their retirement plans in response to rising housing costs.
• 46% see homeownership as a challenge to retirement security.

ACTIVIST TEEN VOTERS

America's teens already are a very engaged generation of future voters, according to our Harris Poll research with UNICEF.

• 80% of future teen voters are interested in current events.
• 62% think the U.S. is on the wrong track - up from 72% in 2024.
• The top youth issues are cost of living (59%), homelessness (50%), the state of the economy (48%), immigration (47%) and access to health care (46%).
• Rural youth are most likely to feel they are not included in the political process in the U.S. (76%), followed by suburban (70%) and urban youth (58%).
• While 67% are engaged in politically focused actions, 90% are asking for more engagement.
• 81% agree that people their age can make a difference.
• 66% believe their opinions don't matter to elected officials.

GEN Z IS DELEGATING TO AI

Gen Z is ready for AI to take over the menial, automated tasks of their daily lives, according to our latest Harris Poll research.

• Gen Z is ready to use AI to file their taxes (24%), outsource their household shopping (21%) and delegate beauty and skincare decisions (19%).
• This aligns with existing early adopter shopping behaviors:
  • 41 million Americans use Subscribe and Save.
  • 141 million buy groceries online.
  • 60-65 million self-file their taxes online.
• 63% believe the future belongs to people who can direct AI, not compete with it.

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