Gulf South Index
Built from research, local perspective and decades of regional experience, the Gulf South Index helps leaders better understand the people, trends and decisions shaping our region.
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Free Samples? Yes! Pay for News? No. – Sneak Peek of 2022 Gulf South Index
We want free stuff. If you’ve ever wondered why a middle-aged gentleman would trip over three 10-year-olds and a nun to catch one of those free t-shirts fired out of a cannon at a basketball game, you are not alone. “Free stuff makes us do very strange, irrational things,” according to a May 8 in-depth article by The Hustle.
Our social media habits are changing
Social media continues to transform how we communicate, gather information and connect with others. It’s the place where we get our news, check in with our friends and family, and discover the latest hot spot for lunch or the newest fashion trends. In fact, 4.62 billion people around the world use social media, with 424 million new users joining a social network in the last year, according to the DATAREPORTAL Digital 2021 October Global Statshot Report.
What is your economic pain threshold?
Inflation and supply chain disruptions were key factors weighing on consumer sentiment around economic outlook and overall optimism at the end of 2021, and they persist today. High demand for goods combined with supply chain issues drove inflation, sending it to a 39-year high of 7% in December – the fastest rise since 1982. This is likely the reason for decreased satisfaction with the state of the economy, which fell to 33% in 2022, a significant drop from right before the start of the pandemic in 2020, according to the latest Mood of the Nation survey by Gallup.
Covid-fatigue, misinformation weighing on consumers in 2022
As 2022 gets underway, we are approaching two years of navigating a global health pandemic. Just when we thought things were returning to a familiar rhythm of what we remember as normalcy and we were gearing up for a joyous holiday season, Omicron emerged with a vengeance. A majority of Americans say they feel “worn out” by how the pandemic has impacted their daily lives, and nearly 50% feel “angry” about it, according to the latest Monmouth University Poll.
Our search for happiness & meaning – What we learned in 2021
In the last couple of years, I’ve taken to writing down interesting things and experiences in a journal that I imagine I’ll come back to and read years from now, maybe when my grandkids ask me what life was like when their parents – my kids – were younger. As I write, I know I’m missing things, but I try to get my thoughts down.
Supply chain setbacks, renewed optimism drive early holiday shopping
With Thanksgiving just a couple weeks away, many consumers are making holiday plans and preparing for the gift-giving season. The latest Gulf South Index data shows that while economic and pandemic uncertainty may have consumers holding back on making large purchases for the remainder of the year, they are still eager to get together for the holidays, with 68% of Gulf South consumers planning to celebrate with family and friends.
NEW REPORT: Optimism down but opportunities abound in the Gulf South
New data released today in the Gulf South Index Fall Update shows consumers in our region are finding themselves in a cone of uncertainty as economic volatility, the aftermath of Hurricane Ida and lingering COVID-19 concerns impact decision-making for the remainder of 2021. The latest findings examine views of consumers in the Gulf South and across the nation regarding the economy, outlook for the future, spending habits, who people trust, post-pandemic behaviors and comfort levels with travel and leisure activities.
Choosing to stay and build – What businesses & organizations can expect
In 2005, everything my wife and I owned washed away in floodwater that followed Hurricane Katrina. She and I had a choice to make. Return and rebuild with our newborn daughter or go elsewhere. We chose to stay and build. The challenges along the U.S. Gulf Coast in the last 16 years – from hurricanes and oil spills to economic downturns and a pandemic – put the same basic choice in front of millions of the region’s citizens.
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