Americans Are Grumpy About Prices. Why Are They Still Spending?

Consumer spending keeps rising despite record-low sentiment, propped up by stock/housing wealth for the rich and record debt/depleted savings for everyone else.

• Sentiment vs. spending decoupled: University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index hit a record low this year and sat at 48.1 in September, yet spending keeps rising.
• K-shaped spending: Older, asset-rich Americans like 65-year-old retired lawyer Alice are spending freely on travel and furniture, boosted by stock and home-value gains.

Themes, sentiment and reasons are AI-written paraphrases, checked so they never quote an episode. They may contain errors. Not investment advice. Episodes remain the property of their creators.