Price-gouging anger, lost vacations, and crypto laggards

The latest trends in society and culture from The Harris Poll

Good afternoon from DC,

One Interesting Stat: 44. Nearly half of American workers (44%) believe that having an active social media presence poses a career risk. Yet, (56%) of Gen Z workers believe their social media presence has helped their careers. They are at least safer than jumbotrons.

We have four new stories from our polling this week:

1. More American consumers accuse companies of unethical pricing strategies, according our polling featured in Forbes.
2. The majority of American employees fail to use their PTO.
3. We’re not in a recession, but a majority of Americans feel financially strained.
4. We polled crypto holdouts to understand their reasons for resisting digital currencies.

Retailers in the Crosshairs Over Tariff-Driven Price Hikes: Forbes-Harris Poll

Blame the Trump administration for inflation and tariffs? No, increasingly price-conscious consumers are pointing the finger at corporations, our polling featured in Forbes suggests:

• Consumers rapidly react to tariffs: The Harvard Business School’s Pricing Lab finds that prices on both imported and domestic goods are increasing, and consumer behavior changes are quickly following, whether that involves trading down, buying less frequently, or opting out of certain purchases altogether.
• Yet they aren’t blaming it on tariff policies: Instead, nearly two-thirds of Americans (63%) believe companies are taking advantage of the economic climate to boost their profits.
• Lower quality + higher prices too: Also, (62%) believe businesses are lowering product quality while raising prices.
• In a related Axios/Harris Poll in May, over a third of Americans (39%) held businesses accountable for their financial struggles, more than nine points higher than the government.

Takeaway: Pricing policies are now a key component of corporate reputation. Given how quickly cultural issues can inflame reputations, being on the wrong side of an economically anxious public creates significant exposure and risk. Conversely, offering fair and transparent pricing to your customers and demonstrating that you are not taking advantage of them during this period of heightened economic anxiety is paramount. The margin is in the customer relationship over the long term. Check out all the insights here.

Lost Vacation: Most Workers Leave PTO on the Table: ResortPass-Harris Poll

In this intemperate economy, many American workers feel their wages aren’t keeping up with inflation. Yet in our polling with ResortPass, one monetary benefit often goes unclaimed: personal time off.

• PTO is often overlooked: Surprisingly, only a little more than a third (35%) of employed Americans track their remaining PTO each year.
• Chill instead of thrill: Another surprise from this study shows that stress and burnout in the workplace. Nearly two-thirds (62%) of workers say relaxing is their top priority for time off, compared to activities and adventures (33%).
• Micro-dosing your vacation: Half of employees (51%) report being more productive after taking only a day off work, and (40%) even feel more patient.

Takeaway: “Americans seem to be looking to supplement high-effort vacations for restorative breaks closer to home — a reflection of growing burnout, the need for more frequent breaks and the rising value people are placing on downtime,” said Michael Wolf, CEO of ResortPass. “Whether it’s a quick reset by the pool or a solo day to recharge, we see that people are finding new ways to fit meaningful relaxation into everyday life.”

The U.S. is Not in a Recession. But 57% of Americans Feel Strapped For Cash: Kikoff-Harris Poll

While major stock indexes have shown positive performance year-to-date in 2025, our findings with Kikoff reveal a trust gap between reported macroeconomic indicators and Americans’ perceptions of their financial standing.

• Most Americans are skeptical of an economic recovery, with only a fifth (22%) trusting the financial data provided by the government.
• Over a third (37%) say the way the U.S. government talks about the economy doesn’t reflect their financial reality.
• Over half (57%) say they feel financially strained, even though we aren’t currently in a recession.
• Even high earners have turned to credit to stay afloat: Households of $100k+ were more likely than their lower-income peers to have carried card balances past the first statement to cover unexpected expensesin the last year (28% v. <$50k: 16%).

Takeaway: Despite reports of stable FICO scores, consistently low unemployment rates, and lowered recession risk, many Americans still feel financially strained. “This survey validates what many people already feel – what looks stable on paper doesn’t always match the reality of day-to-day life,” said Cynthia Chen, founder and CEO of Kikoff. 

Who are the Crypto Laggards? NCA-Harris Poll

We’ve been tracking crypto since its inception, including the largest-ever survey of American crypto holders. But today, it’s more popular than ever, and even Jamie Dimon is now interested. But when we polled those who have digital currencies, it’s a simple lack of understanding that’s holding them back:

• Nearly (90%) of non-holders say they aren’t knowledgeable about buying, using, selling, or trading crypto, with over half saying researching crypto is “overwhelming.”
• One significant psychological barrier is that there is no central actor: (41%) of non-holders say they don’t know who or what is “backing” crypto assets.
• Trust is another blocker: (43%) are concerned about security and fraud, with (36%) lacking trust in crypto platforms and exchanges.
• Entrenched beliefs constitute a significant barrier: converting non-holders to holders doesn’t look promising. Overall, less than a fifth (18%) say they are likely to acquire crypto in 2025.

Takeaway: “Crypto’s biggest barrier is comprehension,” said Stuart Alderoty, President of the NCA. “For most Americans, crypto still feels confusing. Nearly one-quarter of non-holders said they would use crypto if they could pay for goods and services with digital assets, but they already can do these things (and more) – they don’t realize it.