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The latest trends in society and culture from The Harris Poll
Hello from New York.
One Interesting Number: 29. Over a quarter (29%) of Americans say they’ve lived in a house they felt was haunted by ghosts. In an interesting data correlation, (40%) of Americans also say they have remains in their home, from urns of loved ones to pet burials in the yard.
Americans Continue to Ignore Good Economic News. Why?
Many current economic indicators look positive. Yet our new Axios Vibes poll shows that Americans feel the opposite.
- What we found: Less than one in three Americans say the enacted tariffs have been good for the U.S. economy, U.S. businesses, or their personal finances. Instead, nearly two-thirds (65%) say they’re financially squeezed each month.
- The stat you can’t ignore: Nearly half of Americans (47%) say 2025 has been a better year than 2024.
- What to consider: Independents’ survey responses often land somewhere between Republicans’ and Democrats’, but in our survey, they fell more closely with Democrats toward the pessimistic side.
What this means: “This is part of a broader phenomenon in which consumer sentiment and confidence data are depressed, despite many measures of well-being — the unemployment rate, the stock market, GDP growth — looking pretty good,” writes Axios’ Margaret Talev.
Why Youth See Sports Betting Like a Career
- What we found: Nearly two-thirds (64%) of Gen Z and Millennials say the only realistic way to build significant wealth today is through “alternative methods” (e.g., crypto, gambling, etc.). Layer in social and the double or nothing videos, and gambling looks like an investor on adderall.
- The stat you can’t ignore: Legal sports betting brought in $13.7 billion in 2024 alone, up from $248 million in 2017 when legalized.
- What to consider: Sports betting is part of the larger trend of younger Americans believing that traditional 9-to-5s aren’t required to achieve financial success. Gen Z, especially, is leaning into side hustles and investing, so it’s not too surprising that (56%) consider sports betting to be a legitimate career today.
What this means: Sport betting is more than just a thrill or disinterest in corner offices, but a response to how broken young people feel the system is today. “Gen Z are turning to gambling because so many feel the odds are stacked against them,” Gina Battye, founder and CEO of Psychological Safety Institute, explains. “Wages don’t stretch, housing feels out of reach, and work often doesn’t give them the stability or belonging they need.”
Employees Have a Novel Way to Reinvent The Office: Conferences.
With worsening job security and aggressive managers, American employees are returning in droves to the office. But what they want is culture, not just a commute.
- What we found: (79%) of U.S. office employees want to attend more in-person professional conferences, instead of just returning to their pre-COVID work routines.
- The stat you can’t ignore: Over half (55%) wish they had more opportunities to connect with their colleagues IRL, a figure that jumps to two-thirds among Gen Z employees.
- What to consider: This need won’t be solved just by filling cubicles in an office building. Companies need to see beyond attendance quotas, focusing instead on how in-person moments can drive relationships, mentorships, and collaborative/business outcomes.
What this means is that the need for IRL work interactions goes beyond just checking off conferences and client dinners. “As work has become more distributed, people are craving the kinds of in-person experiences that help them feel part of something bigger,” says Engine SVP of people, Heather Krueger. “Travel is no longer just about business goals, but about keeping employees connected and engaged.”
