How Is the U.S. Economy Doing?
The OECD expects the U.S. economy to grow by 2.2 percent in 2026, while a Statista consumer survey shows only 36 percent of U.S. respondents rate the country’s economic situation positively. The gap matters for Europe because weaker U.S. sentiment can affect transatlantic demand, pricing power, and sales forecasts for exporters and marketers.
How Is the U.S. Economy Performing?
The OECD has raised its 2026 forecast for U.S. GDP growth to 2.2 percent, up 0.2 percentage points from its June estimate. It also nudged up the outlook for the world and the G20 by 0.1 percentage points, while lifting Germany’s forecast by 0.4 points and India’s by 0.8 points.
For Europe, the higher Germany estimate suggests a somewhat better near-term backdrop for exports and B2B demand, especially in industrial and marketing-sensitive sectors. The OECD still expects higher prices, weaker real income growth and elevated interest rates to restrain activity, so sales teams should not read the revision as a broad rebound.
Where Mental Health Problems Are Most Prevalent
Statista published a chart on where self-reported mental health problems are most prevalent, based on its Consumer Insights data. It says around four in ten adults in countries such as Australia, the U.S. and Canada reported stress, anxiety or depression in the prior 12 months.
The chart highlights that prevalence varies sharply by country, which may reflect both real differences and varying willingness to report mental health issues. For European employers and marketers, this is relevant because mental health affects workforce productivity, consumer behavior and the tone of brand communication, especially in markets where openness remains limited.
Mental Health: The Biggest Health Challenge of Our Time?
A Statista report says mental health is increasingly seen as one of the biggest health challenges, with 45% of respondents in a 30-country Ipsos survey naming it among their country’s top health problems. The finding matters for Europe because it points to rising demand for care, employer support and insurance products, while also signaling pressure on already stretched health systems.
Over Half of Hotel Stays in Europe are Booked Directly
More than half of hotel stays in Europe were booked directly in 2025, with 36.4% booked through hotels’ own online channels and 20% arranged offline with the property. Online travel platforms still captured 27.8%, while social media accounted for 2%.
The data matters for European hotels because direct channels remain the biggest booking route and reduce dependence on intermediaries. For sales and marketing teams, it underlines the value of owned websites, CRM, and direct-response campaigns, even as OTA visibility remains important.
People Worry About AI Job Losses, Just Not Their Own
A Statista survey found that 47% of respondents in the UK, 41% in the US and 37% in Germany worry that AI could replace millions of jobs, but far fewer fear replacement in their own role. The gap suggests that AI anxiety is still more about broad market disruption than immediate personal risk, which matters for European employers and for Sales and Marketing teams planning AI adoption and change communication.
AI Concerns Are More Common in High-Income Countries
A Pew Research Center survey across 36 countries found that concerns about AI-driven job losses and inequality are more common in high-income countries than in middle-income ones. A median of 55 percent in high-income countries expect fewer jobs over the next 20 years, compared with 36 percent in middle-income countries.
For Europe, this points to a more skeptical backdrop for AI adoption in labor-heavy sectors and in customer-facing functions such as sales and marketing. Companies rolling out AI tools may need clearer internal communication and change management to address employee concerns and maintain trust.
Most People Believe in AI Job Losses, Not Gains
A Pew Research Center survey found that people in 34 of 37 countries surveyed are more likely to expect AI to reduce jobs than create them over the next 20 years. In high-income markets, the concern is especially strong, which matters for Europe because AI adoption in offices, customer service and entry-level roles is already accelerating. For Sales and Marketing teams, the finding signals rising pressure to show how AI supports productivity without threatening employment.
Ipsos Announces the Results of its 2025 Channel Check-In | QSR Mobile Ordering Study
Ipsos released its 2025 Channel Check-In study on mobile ordering in U.S. quick-service restaurants, developed with The Coca-Cola Company and Nation’s Restaurant News. The report benchmarks 40 chains on app ordering, payment and pickup, based on consumer surveys and mystery shopping.
It matters for European restaurant brands and marketers because mobile order-ahead is increasingly a core sales channel, not just a convenience feature. The findings point to what drives repeat use, especially speed, customization and app offers, which are also relevant for EU QSR operators competing on digital experience.
Ipsos Announces the Results of its 2025 Channel Check-In ꟾ Grocery Ecommerce Excellence Study
Ipsos published its 2025 Channel Check-In Grocery Ecommerce Excellence Study, ranking online grocery ordering experiences across 15 U.S. supermarket chains and four third-party delivery providers. H-E-B, Shipt, Hy-Vee, Kroger, Giant Eagle, and Uber Eats were among the top performers.
The study highlights that convenience, low friction, and clear pricing are the main drivers of repeat use. For European grocers and delivery platforms, the findings reinforce how important checkout flow, order updates, and price transparency are for conversion and loyalty.
Ipsos releases the 2026 Channel Check-In | Fuel & C-Store Experience Study
Ipsos has released its 2026 Channel Check-In | Fuel & C-Store Experience Study, based on a survey of 1,500 U.S. adults and more than 1,700 mystery shops across 28 brands. Wawa was named best overall and best backcourt brand, while Maverik led forecourt experience.
The findings matter for European fuel and convenience retailers because they show how execution on safety, cleanliness, and speed drives repeat visits and cross-shopping. For sales and marketing teams, the study also underlines the value of simple loyalty rewards and a strong in-store offer beyond fuel.
How Colorado residents view the U.S.-Canada relationship
Ipsos released a University of Calgary poll of 559 Colorado residents on views of the U.S.-Canada relationship. The survey looks at support for tariffs on Canada, shared challenges, and expectations for the future relationship.
The findings matter for European audiences because they signal how cross-border trade tensions can shape public opinion in a major North American market. For sales and marketing teams, this is a reminder that tariff debates can affect sentiment around imported goods and transatlantic trade narratives.
The original ‘Star Wars’ films are the best, say American fans
Ipsos found that Americans still rate the original Star Wars trilogy as the best, while younger adults are more likely to prefer Clone Wars and the prequels. For European marketers, the main value is the clear age split, which is useful for targeting entertainment, streaming, and fandom campaigns by generation.
Water and energy usage are what worry us most about data centers
Ipsos finds broad concern about data center construction in the U.S. In its Consumer Tracker, 69% of Americans say they are concerned, with water use and energy supply the top worries. For Europe, this points to rising scrutiny of AI and cloud infrastructure, which can affect site selection, permitting, and how sales and marketing teams position data-heavy services.
Americans are concerned about nearly every aspect of electronic privacy
Ipsos finds Americans are concerned about nearly every form of electronic privacy, including location tracking, camera and microphone access, and data sharing. The result reinforces how sensitive consumers remain to data use, a factor that also shapes trust and consent expectations in Europe under GDPR and related rules. For sales and marketing teams, it underlines the need for clearer permission practices and more careful data-led targeting.
Almost all younger people are trying to limit their screen time
Ipsos found that 91% of 18- to 34-year-olds are doing something to reduce screen time, compared with 47% of people aged 55 and older. The result suggests younger consumers are becoming more selective about how they use digital media, which matters for social, video, and mobile marketing in Europe.
Food illnesses are leading two in three Americans to change buying behavior
Ipsos found that one in three Americans bought less produce during a cyclospora outbreak, and similar shares said they washed produce more carefully. Two in three said food illness changed their buying behavior, showing how quickly safety concerns can affect grocery demand. For European food retailers and brands, this is a reminder that outbreak news can shift purchase patterns fast and should be managed closely in sales and marketing communications.
Americans still trust humans more than AI
Ipsos found that Americans still trust humans more than AI across a wide range of tasks, including medical test results, job screening, and travel planning. Trust is highest when AI is used as an assist for creative or low-risk work, which matters for European sales and marketing teams weighing how far to automate customer-facing and analytic tasks.
Americans want customer interactions to be human, not AI
Ipsos says Americans strongly prefer humans over AI for customer interactions, including food preparation and ordering. The finding matters for European retailers, restaurants, and service brands because it suggests automation works best when paired with visible human contact, which can shape CX and sales strategies.
Americans show we care by… texting
Ipsos found that two in three Americans have shown care by sending a text in the past three months. The survey suggests digital messaging has become a default way to maintain personal contact, which matters for European marketers and sales teams tracking how consumers expect brands to communicate.
Most Americans aren’t thinking about climate’s impact on their wallet… yet
Ipsos says 39% of Americans think about what climate change is costing them, and 12% say they think about it “a great deal.” The poll suggests climate costs are not yet a top budget concern, but energy and food prices are already shaping how people connect climate risks to everyday spending. For European marketers and sales teams, this points to a consumer mindset where climate messaging may land better when tied to direct costs, such as bills, insurance, and food prices.
Ipsos Consumer Tracker
Ipsos finds concern over AI data center construction
Ipsos says 69% of Americans are concerned about the growth of AI data center construction, with worries led by water use, grid strain, and higher utility bills. For European Sales and Marketing teams, the result signals that infrastructure-heavy AI expansion can trigger public cost and sustainability concerns, which may also shape how brands frame AI and energy messaging in Europe.
Professions Americans do and don’t trust
Ipsos found that teachers, doctors, scientists, and soldiers are the only professions trusted by a majority of Americans in its latest Global Trustworthiness Index. Politicians rank last, while trust in AI chatbots is also very low.
The findings matter for European brands and sales teams because trust remains concentrated in a few institutions and professions, which can shape how audiences respond to spokespeople and expert-led messaging. The result also reinforces a broader European challenge for AI and tech marketing, where credibility can be a barrier to adoption.
How Americans Listen to Music
Streaming remains the dominant way Americans listen to music, with 63 percent saying they used it in the past year, compared with 24 percent for CDs and 11 percent for vinyl. Radio still reaches 42 percent of U.S. adults.
For European music platforms, labels and advertisers, the figures underline that streaming remains the core distribution and monetization channel. The persistence of CDs and radio also matters for campaign planning, especially for mixed-media strategies and audience segmentation in Europe.
Retro Revival? Physical Music Sales Surge in 2026
CD sales in the United States rose 45.7% in the first half of 2026, reaching 17.5 million units, according to the RIAA. The rebound is still small in revenue terms, but it shows that physical formats can still generate niche demand, which is relevant for labels and retailers in Europe watching fan-driven sales and collectible releases.
Where Robots Do the Housework
Statista says domestic robots such as vacuum and lawn-mowing models have moved from niche gadgets to mass-market products over the past two decades. Adoption remains limited, with fewer than one in five respondents in each surveyed market owning either type.
The low penetration suggests room for growth in Europe, especially as prices fall and smart-home use expands. For consumer brands and retailers, this points to a market that is still early but increasingly relevant for premium and convenience-focused households.
Rise of the Robots
The global operational stock of industrial robots has more than tripled over the past decade and topped five million units by the end of 2025. Asia accounts for 76 percent of new installations, with China alone responsible for 59 percent of the global total last year.
This shows that automation investment remains concentrated in Asia, which matters for European manufacturers competing on cost, speed, and productivity. For Sales and Marketing teams in Europe, it also signals growing demand for robotics, software, and integration services in sectors under pressure to automate.
House Prices and Rents are on Different Tracks in Europe
House prices and rents have moved in opposite directions in Europe over the long term. OECD data show that real house prices in the euro area rose by nearly 39 points from 1996 to early 2025, while real rents fell by about 8 points.
For European landlords, tenants, and housing policymakers, this points to a structural affordability gap rather than a simple pass-through from house prices to rents. For sales and marketing teams in travel, accommodation, and real estate, it also signals that consumer price sensitivity remains shaped by inflation-adjusted housing costs, not just headline rent levels.