BIZADVICE
Are you overlooking your best talent?
Warning: Price has become central to shoppers
Plan now for the turbulent economy that lies ahead, study advises
BUSINESSES URGENTLY need to plan now to make it through the turbulent economic landscape that lies straight ahead.
That is the message from a new study that shows that economic uncertainty is no longer just a hypothetical concern for American households; it is now having a noticeable and growing effect on personal finances and spending habits.
The latest data from the Consumer Trends Report by Resonate reflect a sharp increase in financial fears. Consumers are concentrating on saving costs above all else.
- Personal Financial Struggles: The percentage of consumers feeling "somewhat worse off" sharply rose by a quarter from March 2025 to reach 22.2%.
- Purchase Delays and Cancellations: Consumers are increasingly postponing or canceling vacations, major household purchases, vehicle acquisitions, and even home sales. This trend extends to subscriptions, with the number of Americans canceling some or all subscriptions rising by 8.6% to 29% in just three months.
- Return to Core Cost-Saving Strategies: Time-tested strategies from past inflationary periods are back in force. A half are opting for cheaper store or alternative brands, and more than a third are cutting non-essential purchases.
Consumer pessimism causes dramatic changes in advertising campaigns
AS CONSUMER SENTIMENT drops rapidly, brands are tightening budgets and lower-funnel campaigns remain a lifeline for performance, according to findings in a new study by AdRoll. Tactics are shifting as TikTok’s ad prices rebound and Google pauses its privacy overhaul.
TikTok's CPMs began climbing in March and reached their 2025 high in April (just 6% below last year's levels) despite continued uncertainty around its U.S. presence. At the same time, Google has officially stepped back from its original plan to phase out third-party cookies, providing advertisers with short-term relief. However, experts caution against a renewed reliance on legacy targeting methods, as privacy-first alternatives continue to gain traction.
Google's AI-powered search is upending how consumers discover brands and how marketers reach them, the report says. The rollout of AI Mode, a new conversational search experience with ad placements in AI Overviews, marks a fundamental shift in search behavior. Early data shows that these AI-driven results have already reduced click-through rates on traditional listings by more than 30%, prompting brands to rethink their organic strategies and explore emerging ad formats.
"We're seeing a fundamental shift in how people discover and engage with content, says George Castrissiades, general manager of connected TV at AdRoll. "To stay competitive, marketers need to diversify beyond traditional channels and embrace cross-platform strategies that span the full funnel. Channels like connected TV are especially powerful in this environment. Research shows that when CTV is integrated with other tactics, it can drive an 11% lift in purchase intent."
AI delivers $1.36 return for every $1 invested, study reveals
COMPANIES ARE REALIZING a 136% spike in return on investment (ROI) from AI in financial technology. Savings exceed $1.36m for every $1m invested over a three-year period, according to a global survey.
Amid economic turbulence, fueled by tariffs and global trade disruptions, AI is being tied directly to enterprises' financial performance.
The findings were revealed in Basware's AI to ROI report, conducted by independent research firm Financial Times Longitude
The survey found that companies investing in AI are able to tackle more efficiently their biggest challenges—data accuracy, fraud detection, and process delays. Three out of four companies report that AI enables its employees to focus on strategic activities instead of repetitive manual work.
It's not solely about saving money but funding the ability to accelerate growth," says Jason Kurtz, CEO of Basware.
Are you losing out by not making enough use of AI technology?
American business reputations with consumers are slipping over prices and value; steps you should take
Small businesses need to sell online to capture younger customers, study finds
Language barriers daily challenge almost seven in every 10 US enterprises
Study offers advice for business as consumer sentiment turns deeply negative
The marketing crisis you didn't see coming
Learn how to run a successful small business from those who know
He found that the winning small business owners all had taken 10 steps that contributed to their success. The steps are outlined in detail in this book.
It is packed with real-life examples and case studies so the reader can see how the businesses applied the 10 steps to make their ventures successful.
These steps can work for you, too, whether your business is only a concept, a start-up or an established company seeking to advance. Indeed, 10 Proven Steps to Small Business Success is essential reading for all small business owners.
Most consumers mark emails as spam at first glance—what you should do to build engagement
This book will make a great coffee-table book for your reception area
A short course in how to choose a domain name
Are your employees experiencing 'quiet cracking'?
