WJR Business Beat

A new industry is growing as a result of consumer cutbacks and spending the sector that of secondhand retail platforms, in particular, apparel and fashion retail platforms like Poshmark, Depop, and others. They're growing today at a time when many businesses are being hit hard by various macroeconomic challenges. 58% of US consumers shopped for pre-owned items last year, and that number is growing...

With respect to the cost of travel these days, while it seems all other costs are trending upward, travel costs are actually generally trending down. The August, 2025 travel inflation report from NerdWallet shows that for the fifth straight month in a row, travel costs in the United States have trended downward. All in all, according to the report average US travel costs are down 1% from where the...

Elizabeth Parks, President and Chief Marketing Officer of Parks Associates, says this about her findings: "As the streaming market matures, consolidation and aggregation are reshaping the competitive landscape as platforms are building creator-led studio and niche content into unified experiences to keep viewers engaged across all formats". Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm...

The 2025 Global 500 report from brand finance, a brand valuation consultancy, happy to report that the world's top 500 most valuable brands are growing in value collectively across the board with values rising by 10% year over year. Interestingly, the world's foremost valuable brands are technology companies and American brands comprise more than half of the top 500 most valuable list. Hosted by S...

Big city small businesses express confidence generally, while those in small towns, suburban or rural areas showed increasing concern about their future. These worries stem from factors like workers returning to offices, economic uncertainties, and challenges in securing finances. A bit of a mixed bag here. Small businesses holding their own for now and generally feeling good about current perform...

Reported by Axios fast casual restaurants as they're known are establishments that are not full-blown dine-in experiences, but more of a hybrid between traditional fast food and sit down restaurants. Those like Chipotle and Wingstop, for example, are facing a significant slowdown in business as consumers, especially cash strapp Gen Zers grow weary of the economy and become even more price sensitiv...

Midwest startups has come out with its ranking of the top cities in the Midwest. If you've got a startup, and we've got some highlights for you. Before we get to the rankings though, first, the criteria by which the cities were ranked 43 point half percent of the weight in this ranking was determined by a measure of each city's startup, community, activity and vibrancy, including factors such as t...

The latest data from Payments, sheds more light on just how they are shopping and what they're shopping for, as well as highlighting what's most important to them when it comes to making their online buying decisions. First, as expected from the digital first-generation Genzer shop and buy on mobile more than any other generation, and what they're shopping for is influenced by influencers. More th...

The US toy industry has returned to growth in the first half of 2025, after a flat 2024. Even with a sales decline in 2023, sales are up 6% year over year in 25, and after three years of stagnation, the average selling price also climbed 3% year over year. Who's driving the growth? Well, believe it or not, it's adults. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for infor...

New data from a study from Wonder Kind highlights the following: 53% of those surveyed said, US consumers are paying the financial costs for imported goods. This share was even higher for older people expressed by 67% of boomers and 61% of Gen X as well as women at 55% believe that consumers are the ones bearing most, if not all of the cost increases. Only 10% think retailers take on the cost, and...

Detroit came in 7th in the Midwest based on the current rankings, Columbus, Ohio at 6th, Ann Arbor moves up from 7th to number 5 in this month's rating displacing both Detroit and Columbus, moving them down each a notch. Pittsburgh at number 4, Indianapolis at 3, Minneapolis at 2, and the number one city in the Midwest for startups as they've been ranked in 2025, Chicago. Hosted by Simplecast, an...

As expected from the digital first generation Gen Z shop and buy on mobile more than any other generation, and what they're shopping for is influenced by influencers more than any other source. Gen Z is health conscious. Nearly 15% of Gen Z's monthly digital transactions are focused on their wellbeing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our...

While most small businesses reported increasing revenues in the past year, alongside fewer instances of contracting margins or staffing difficulties. This positive sentiment is countered by many [00:01:00] small business owners. In particular, those in those rural areas that worry about their longtime survival, threatened most of all by what they qualify as concerns over general macro poor economi...

Fast casual restaurants typically have more insulation from a downturn because they target higher-income customers than traditional fast food. Rising unemployment and lower discretionary spending are forcing consumers into even more scrutiny over their spending these days and one area hit particularly hard is this category. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for...

Most consumers believe that it's the consumers who are bearing most, if not all, of the increased costs created by tariffs. So what's the impact? Perception, whether real or not, can impact consumer sentiment, and we're seeing that in the marketplace today. This represents another challenge for retailers. One key recommendation is to focus on transparency when it comes to pricing today. Show how t...

While marketing makes a good short term sacrificial lamb, targeting marketing might just cause more damage in the long term as marketing cuts can result in risks to product and brand visibility, as well as market share and customer loyalty. These are tough times for many small business to operate in today, try to find ways to make cuts more broadly across your business as opposed to what seems to...

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Consumers will be prioritizing in the following categories: 45% will plan to spend on gifts for family, 35% specifically will spend on gifts for children, 31% plan to spend on holiday meals. Factors to influence purchasers during the upcoming season? 55% plan to utilize discounts and coupons or promotions, 43% will be focused on convenience, 35% say it's product reviews and ratings that's most imp...

Inside Radio publication reports, despite economic headwinds and an evolving ad market radio remains a steadfast medium, continuing to reach more Americans daily than any other audio platform, emphasizing local market resilience and the growing importance of digital and off air revenue streams to the future of the radio business. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.co...

2025 was initially forecast to be a record breaking period for travel with the International Air Transport Association projecting 5.2 billion people would fly globally this year. That bullish prediction is likely to fall way short. The bottom line, the trouble brewing for the travel sector is consistent with other indicators that consumers are more economizing with a focus on value and purchases t...

Remote work is still a major trend when it comes to how we work here in the state of Michigan. In 2025, 48% of organizations report offering formal remote work options for all or part of their workforce. While this marks a decline from 66% reported in a similar 2023 survey on flexible work practices, it remains the most common long-term approach. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https...

The battle between Tractor Supply Company and Amazon as Amazon expands its ambitions into the heartland w/ the announcement of its plans to upgrade delivery service into more rural communities. Amazon plans to invest more than $4 billion by 2026 to expand its delivery network into rural America. This is just another clear sign that the power of convenience and favorable pricing when it comes to wi...

Working from home proven to reduce carbon footprint Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

One product category that is experiencing more demand than ever, but is suffering due to the impact of rising prices is wellness. Demand is high, but for many, making purchases for wants or needs is out of reach due to the higher and higher pricing they're having to face these days. Brands that democratize access without compromising quality and trust will unlock mainstream adoption and a lasting...

Where do Americans get their news these days? On social media platforms. We've been trending in that direction, but now it's official. Research outlined in the digital news report, 2025, conducted by the Reuters Institute, found that social media and video networks have become the main source of news in the US. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information a...