Episode
The Spending Paradox: Why Americans Are Still Opening Their Wallets
- Published
- Jul 22, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2239
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Summary
Americans say they feel bad about the economy. Their spending tells a different story. Michelle Meyer, Chief Economist at Mastercard and head of the Mastercard Economics Institute, joins Liz Thomas to share her perspective on what Mastercard is seeing in real-time spending data. The episode looks at why consumer sentiment has stayed weak even as spending has held up. Meyer says the data shows consumers are still buying, but the easy spending environment has changed. Higher prices have made people more selective. That puts more pressure on companies that once had more room to pass costs through. The conversation uses travel as one example of the gap between mood and behavior. And also looks at how spending behavior is changing beneath the headline numbers, from online returns to the way people research purchases before they buy. This episode is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Subscribe to The Important Part for smarter conversations about markets, investing and the forces shaping your financial future. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat. Additional resources: On The Money: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. Investing 101 Center: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. Wealth Investing Guide: Inform…