America This Week Wave 258

Open Banking Soars, A Record-Breaking Super Bowl Sick Day, Marry Me And My Debt, And Home Cooking Is Hot Right Now

The latest trends in society and culture from The Harris Poll

“Smile and say AI.” In our new polling, over two in five Americans (44%) – and (55%) of Millennials would consider AI for their professional headshots. But if you’re an OG headshotter, you’d have to go to El Paso, one of the last remaining Glamour Shots locations. At its peak in the nineties, there were 350 studios. Hey, vinyl is back. You never know…

We have four new stories this week:

1. New Harris-Mastercard research shows the broad adoption of open banking, as consumers and businesses save time and money with frictionless financial management.
2. Warn HR! Our polling forecasts a record number of Super Bowl Monday sick days.
3. Debt is the latest reason to be swiping left of potential love interests.
4. More Americans are home cooking to fight off sticky inflation.

The Age of Open Banking: Mastercard-Harris Poll

Open banking is an invisible financial infrastructure transforming daily life and powers business growth, as shown in our new global report with Mastercard details. Our CSO Libby Rodney & MD Abbey Lunney unpack how consumers and businesses use open banking today:

• More than three-quarters (76%) of consumers say they connect financial accounts directly to tools to conduct financial tasks.
• Convenience is key to commercial success: (73%) of consumers want more convenient financial experiences, and (58%) share their data for more personalized experiences with trusted organizations.
• The commercial cost of disruption (CCoD): (71%) of consumers will walk away from an online transaction that requires switching to another platform to complete a payment.
• Efficiency is crucial to success: (64%) of businesses report improved profitability, while (63%) note a positive impact on revenue, and (92%) agree that “open banking is essential for future-proofing my organization.”

Takeaway: Lunney and Rodney: “Open banking isn’t just about smoother transactions – it’s about reimagining financial services. “We’re seeing the emergence of a new financial ecosystem where data flows securely, decisions are made instantly, and value is created continuously.” Jess Turner, Executive Vice Global Head of Open Banking and API at Mastercard, notes, “Across the industry, we must work together to advance open banking in ways that responsibly support all parties in the ecosystem, ultimately allowing all boats to rise.”

This Monday Morning Quarterback is Taking a Sick Day: UKG-Harris Poll

As the Kansas City Chiefs attempt a record-breaking three-peat this Sunday, our latest research with UKG suggests that workplaces in the U.S. could see a record number of employee absences.

• We estimate 22.6 million U.S. employees will miss work the day after Super Bowl LIX, up from 16.1 million employees last year and the previous record of 18.8 million in 2023.
• Employees have trick plays to get out of work: Of those planning to miss work on Monday, about 3.2 million will fake sick, while another 3.2 will “ghost” their employer.
• And those who make it in will be iffy: (36%) say they’ll be less productive than they usually are at work on Monday after the Super Bowl – including (44%) of managers.
• Just give us the day already: (56%) of U.S. employees wish their company gave them the day off, while (43%) say Super Bowl Monday should be a national holiday already.

Takeaway: In a divided society, it’s rare to have a mass-reaching event and bipartisan support for skipping work! Companies and leaders can lean in — instead of pretending they don’t exist — to build camaraderie and trust. From the Super Bowl to March Madness to the Olympics and every marquee event, organizations shouldn’t ignore their real impacts on employees’ absenteeism, presenteeism, and productivity. After all, there’s always Tuesday.

The Debt Dealbreaker: NerdWallet-Harris Poll

First, we found that Gen Z and Millennials were breaking up over political beliefs. Now, the latest dealbreaker is debt. So, how much debt is too much? In our latest NerdWallet research, it may be more than you think.

• Ten percent of Americans, including more young people (Gen Z: 15%, Millennials: 13% vs. Gen X: 7%, Boomer+: 6%), would never date someone with credit card debt.
• Yet, even of those who would, nine in ten (90%) say there are limits, with (43%) breaking it off at over $5k debt or more; (20%) say $20k or more is a dealbreaker.
• However, student loan debt is different: (77%) of Americans would be okay with their partner having student loan debt.
• Financial responsibility is rather sexy: (85%) say financial responsibility is an essential quality in a romantic partner.

Takeaway: “Many people make changes to themselves to become more attractive to potential partners. One of those changes could be getting your finances in order,” says Sara Rathner, a NerdWallet credit cards expert. “But ultimately, you should pay down your debt for your own sake. Maybe you’ll find a partner, and maybe not, but either way, being debt-free gives you the freedom to try out different life paths.”

Americans Fight Inflation By Cooking At Home: Flashfood-Harris Poll

With USDA predicting food prices to rise nearly 2% in 2025, American households are already planning to switch up their meal planning in our research with Flashfood.

• Most Americans (83%) say saving money is a bigger priority than other years.
• Nearly half (45%) are pessimistic about the government’s ability to manage the economy and lower prices this year (Axios Harris Vibes), while (69%) worry about affording their living expenses.
• Eight in ten (81%) say saving money on food is a priority this year. Even Waffle House added a 50-cent surcharge on eggs this week.

• Clean up in Aisle Five: We found that (59%) of shoppers felt triggered at the grocery store.
• Most believe cooking meals at home is the best way to save money and the healthiest option too (both 89%).

Takeaway: “In light of what we already know, which is that the cost of groceries is going to continue to rise, these findings offer fascinating takeaways for U.S. grocers,” said Nicholas Bertram, CEO of Flashfood. “Consumers will focus more on cooking at home instead of eating out or ordering from restaurants to save money. This is an opportunity for retailers to think creatively about their tech offerings to make sure they enable the purchase of quality, nutritious, and affordable food. The best, most community-minded grocers will turn this economic reality into a positive.”