Global Data Pod Research Rap: Consumer malaise and the outlook for spending
May 22, 2024
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Joseph Lupton discusses shifts in consumer confidence and the decoupling of consumer 'malaise' from actual spending in the US, leading to an acceleration in global consumer spending. The podcast also explores the outlook for consumer spending in weak-spots like Western Europe, with insights on macroeconomic fundamentals and global growth.
Consumer sentiment influenced by macroeconomic factors like inflation and income growth.
Differences in consumer sentiment measures indicate varying impacts of stock market performance and unemployment rates.
Deep dives
G4 Consumer Sentiment and Spending Post-Inflation Surge
Consumer sentiment and spending have been impacted by recent economic developments. The G4 consumer confidence piece discusses how factors like the inflation surge in 2022 affected consumers. Despite improvements in macro conditions with declining inflation and strong employment and income growth, the aftermath of the inflation surge has influenced consumer sentiment and spending patterns.
Cross-Country Variations in Consumer Confidence
Consumer sentiment varies across countries, with the US showing strong spending trends, while Western Europe and Japan exhibit more moderate or negative consumer behavior. Surveys reveal that people dislike inflation more than they appreciate income gains, affecting consumer sentiment differently across regions. Europeans, especially in the UK, are more sensitive to inflation, while Japan's recent experience with inflation has impacted consumer sentiment negatively.
Comparing US and Europe Consumer Sentiment Drivers
Differences in sentiment measures like the Conference Board and University of Michigan surveys have shown contrasting trends, with the latter showing a more significant decline. Factors such as stock market performance, unemployment rates, and inflation contribute differently to each survey's results. The divergence in sentiment measures raises questions about the underlying causes, including potential political biases influencing consumer perceptions.
Joseph Lupton joins Nora Szentivanyi to discuss recent shifts in consumer confidence, its fundamental drivers and the outlook for consumer spending. Macroeconomic fundamentals such inflation, income growth, labor markets and stock markets explain a reasonable share of movements in consumer confidence. But the latest consumer sentiment readings for DM economies broadly sit below the levels suggested by macro conditions. A decoupling of this consumer “malaise” from actual consumer behavior in the US drove an acceleration in global consumer spending last quarter. And with the latest PMI surveys indicating that the base for global growth is broadening, we expect consumer spending in a few key regional weak-spots (particularly Western Europe) to follow suit in the months ahead.