Republican consumers, just a few months after vehemently criticizing the economy and soaring inflation, are now seemingly giddy about the current state of affairs. Record-breaking Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, along with the best Thanksgiving weekend box office ever, paint a picture of robust consumer spending. This stands in stark contrast to their previous pronouncements of economic doom.
This sudden shift in sentiment is baffling to many. The same individuals who were previously vocal about the struggles of affording groceries and gas now appear unconcerned, suggesting that perhaps the economic anxieties weren’t as genuine as they claimed. Some observers posit that the focus was never truly on economic policy but rather on electing a candidate aligned with their social and cultural views – a candidate who, coincidentally, shares their perspectives on issues such as homophobia, transphobia, racism, and misogyny.… Continue reading
Black Friday 2024 shattered previous ecommerce sales records, reaching $10.8 billion in US online sales—a 10.2% year-over-year increase. This surge, driven by mobile shopping (55% of online sales) and increased Buy Now, Pay Later usage (8.8% year-over-year growth), surpassed even Thanksgiving’s online sales. Significant growth was observed in categories like toys (622% increase over October daily average), highlighting consumers’ responsiveness to deep discounts averaging 28% off. Globally, Black Friday online sales reached $74.4 billion, with AI playing a significant role in driving conversions.
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Buy Now Before Tariffs Hit, Retailers Are Telling Shoppers; A Closer Look at the Panic
Retailers are aggressively urging consumers to make purchases now, citing the looming threat of impending tariffs. The message is clear: buy now or pay more later. This push is happening across various sectors, creating a sense of urgency among shoppers. But is this genuine concern, or is there a more calculated strategy at play?
The timing of this push is interesting, coinciding with the holiday shopping season. This naturally leads to questions about whether this is a genuine attempt to warn customers or a shrewd marketing tactic capitalizing on existing consumer anxieties and holiday spending habits.… Continue reading
Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker