5 Min Read
The Cost of Cheer: Why Americans Are Spending More To Feel Good
Even with inflation weighing on wallets, Americans are determined to celebrate this holiday season. The latest Harris Poll survey with NerdWallet finds that holiday gift spending is climbing as consumers prioritize connection and small joys over strict budgeting.
This year’s findings reveal surprising optimism: despite debt concerns and higher living costs, shoppers plan to give more and spend smarter.
- Average holiday spending is projected to increase over last year’s totals
- 68% say gifting brings them personal happiness and stress relief
- 57% plan to shop earlier to avoid last-minute price hikes
- 48% will use credit or buy-now-pay-later options to manage costs
- Nearly 1 in 3 are prioritizing experiences over physical gifts
Takeaway: The holidays remain emotionally driven, not economically restrained. Brands that recognize the joy and meaning behind giving can build trust even in tighter times.
Interested in more? Learn why most travelers are determined to make trips happen this holiday season, and how they are finding creative ways to save along the way.
The Harris Hundred: Canada’s Most Trusted Brands, Ranked
Our new Harris Hundred report reveals which companies Canadians trust most in 2025 and why. From banks to brands, reputation continues to hinge on authenticity, reliability, and responsibility.
This year’s results highlight how corporate trust is built through actions, not ads. Reputation leaders show strong alignment between what they say and what they do, across industries from technology to transportation.
- The average corporate reputation score in Canada remains steady year-over-year
- Companies with clear social values outperform those with generic ESG messaging
- Financial institutions saw modest reputation gains tied to transparency efforts
- Technology brands improved as Canadians warmed to AI’s practical uses
- Public trust declines sharply when companies appear inconsistent or evasive
Takeaway: Corporate reputation in Canada is increasingly earned through clarity and follow-through. The brands Canadians trust most are those that pair purpose with performance.
Discover additional insights as well as top-tier news coverage of this story in Canadian Business.
Retirement Reality Check: How the Middle Class Is Coping
Despite excitement around holiday spending, the American middle class is feeling squeezed; caught between optimism about retirement and anxiety about financial preparedness. In this new survey from The Harris Poll, completed for the Transamerica Institute’s 25th Annual Retirement Survey, middle-income households reveal both determination and doubt about their long-term stability.
While most plan to retire, many admit they are underprepared, under-saved, or unsure where to start. Rising costs and lingering debt have reshaped what “financial security” means to everyday Americans.
- 65% of middle-income adults say they are behind on retirement savings
- 47% have dipped into savings to cover unexpected expenses
- 61% worry they will never be able to retire fully
- 39% say they lack access to employer-sponsored savings plans Confidence is strongest among those who work with financial advisors
Takeaway: Retirement readiness is no longer a luxury concern. Helping middle-income Americans regain confidence and access is essential to stabilizing the nation’s financial future.
Want to explore further? Discover additional insights and news coverage in Axios.
Burnout to Breakthrough: Rebuilding Healthcare’s Workforce
Healthcare organizations continue to face staffing shortages, with burnout now seen as a structural problem rather than a seasonal one. A new Harris Poll study for Strategic Education Inc. identifies what drives healthcare workers to stay or leave, and what employers can do to rebuild resilience.
From unmanageable workloads to lack of recognition, the findings point to a clear theme: retention requires both financial and emotional investment.
- 72% of healthcare workers say burnout has worsened since the pandemic
- 58% feel their workload has become unsustainable
- 46% report their employer rarely recognizes their contributions
- 41% have considered leaving the industry entirely
- Workers who feel supported are 3x more likely to stay long-term
Takeaway: Fixing healthcare retention starts with restoring humanity. Employers who listen, invest in support systems, and prioritize recognition will see the highest returns in morale and retention.
Explore what’s driving the trend via additional news coverage in MedPage Today.
The Market Has Feelings: How Emotion Moves Share Prices
Can public sentiment forecast the stock market? The Harris Poll and Lightbox Intelligence partnered to find out. By mapping consumer emotion to financial behavior, the research reveals how brand perception can serve as an early indicator of share price performance.
This study introduces a new methodology linking consumer confidence, brand favorability, and market outcomes, proving that emotion and economics are closely intertwined.
- Brands with strong emotional resonance saw faster recovery after market dips
- Shifts in public sentiment often preceded stock movement by several weeks
- Positive emotional response correlates with sustained share price stability
- Volatile sentiment patterns were linked to reduced investor confidence
- Emotion-based forecasting outperformed traditional tracking in select sectors
Takeaway: Markets move on more than math. Emotional intelligence—understanding how people feel about brands—may soon become as valuable to investors as the balance sheet itself.
