Prosper Insights - Consumer Futures

Phil Rist
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Each month Prosper surveys over 8,000 US consumers on a broad selection of spending intentions and retail behaviors. Our unique ‘fill in the blank’ write in questions combined with our emotional drivers, like impulsivity and happiness, result in a data bank used by leading brands, retailers, marketers and financiers to understand the dynamic and ever-changing consumer.

  1. Jun 18

    Prosper Consumer Intentions Snapshot-June 2026

    The June 2026 Prosper Consumer Snapshot provides a detailed analysis of American buying habits, revealing a public that remains economically resilient despite mounting financial strain. While overall confidence and spending intent saw minor monthly increases, the data highlights a significant rise in inflation awareness, particularly regarding essential goods like groceries and gasoline. Consequently, shoppers are adopting more utilitarian behaviors, such as prioritizing necessities over luxuries and choosing private-label brands to stretch their budgets. High-value membership ecosystems like Walmart+ are seeing growth as consumers seek better deals, even as they pull back on discretionary travel. Ultimately, the report advises businesses to emphasize practicality and value, as households are increasingly cautious about their standard of living.

    5 min

  2. May 15

    Prosper Consumer Intentions Snapshot-May 2026

    The May 2026 Prosper Consumer Intentions Snapshot provides a comprehensive analysis of U.S. economic sentiment and purchasing behaviors following a period of high energy costs. The data reveals that while inflationary pressures on fuel and groceries persist, consumer confidence and overall mood have begun to stabilize compared to the previous month. Households are increasingly adopting disciplined shopping strategies, such as prioritizing store brands and utilizing membership platforms like Walmart Plus to maximize value. Despite making trade-offs in discretionary areas like travel, many individuals still intend to move forward with major investments in housing and vehicles. Ultimately, the podcast highlights a shift from initial market shock to a more practical and adaptive approach to spending.

    5 min

  3. May 8

    Prosper Insights AI & Innovation Briefing 2026 E27

    AI Has A Data Problem - Causal Data May Solve It Despite massive investments, most artificial intelligence initiatives fail because they rely on transactional data that only tracks historical patterns and past behaviors. These traditional datasets explain what happened but fail to capture the underlying intentions or emotions that drive future actions. To overcome this, organizations must shift toward causal data, which identifies the specific mechanisms and reasons behind decision-making. By focusing on upstream signals like consumer expectations and sentiment, models can predict market shifts months before they appear in sales records. This transition from correlation to causation makes AI systems more robust, transparent, and capable of delivering meaningful outcomes in changing environments. Ultimately, the future success of AI depends less on improving algorithms and more on integrating high-quality causal insights.

    5 min

  4. Apr 30

    Prosper Insights AI & Innovation Briefing 2026 E26

    The AI Paradox: World-Class Algorithms and Second-Class DataThis podcast explores a significant disconnect in the tech industry, where businesses are aggressively increasing AI spending despite a sharp rise in project failures. This "AI Paradox" occurs because organizations frequently deploy sophisticated algorithms on a foundation of low-quality, unorganized, or insecure data. Beyond technical hurdles, the research highlights a lack of clear business objectives and widespread employee anxiety regarding data privacy and job security. To bridge this execution gap, leaders are advised to prioritize rigorous data governance and intentional, outcome-based strategies over simple financial investment.

    6 min

  5. Apr 20

    Prosper Consumer Intentions Snapshot-Apr 2026

    The April 2026 Prosper Consumer Snapshot provides a comprehensive look at the financial health and buying habits of over 7,500 American adults. This report highlights a dip in economic confidence and a slight decline in overall happiness compared to previous periods. Rising costs, particularly for gasoline, are forcing many individuals to prioritize essential needs over wants while seeking out generic brands and sales. Despite these financial pressures, there is a slight annual increase in intentions to purchase homes and vehicles. Additionally, the data tracks a significant growth in Walmart Plus memberships, contrasting with more stable trends for Amazon Prime. Ultimately, these insights serve as a strategic guide for marketers and financial institutions navigating a cautious retail environment.

    5 min

  6. Mar 20

    Prosper Consumer Intentions Snapshot - Mar 2026

    The March 2026 Prosper Consumer Snapshot provides a comprehensive analysis of the current financial state and future intentions of U.S. shoppers. While general economic confidence remains stable, the report highlights a significant decline in overall happiness as rising costs for essentials like gasoline begin to strain household budgets. Consumers are responding to these pressures by adopting disciplined spending habits, such as prioritizing necessary goods over luxury items and utilizing store brands or digital memberships. Despite this cautious outlook, intentions to purchase vehicles and homes have increased, suggesting a shift away from travel and home improvement toward more functional investments. Ultimately, the data reveals a highly selective consumer base that values utility and savings in an increasingly expensive market.

    5 min

  7. Mar 11

    Prosper Insights AI & Innovation Briefing 2026 E25

    The Rare Earth Moment: AI’s High-Quality Data Bottleneck The podcast argues that the primary obstacle to artificial intelligence progress has shifted from algorithmic complexity to the scarcity of high-quality, forward-looking data. Comparing this phenomenon to a "Rare Earth Moment," the podcast explains that while models have become massive, they often fail because they rely on backward-looking digital exhaust rather than genuine human intent. To achieve reliable results, AI requires clean, longitudinal signals that capture how consumers plan to behave in the future. The podcast emphasizes that proprietary datasets are now more valuable than open-web scraping for predicting macroeconomic shifts and market trends. Ultimately, the next era of technological leadership will be defined by those who control these scarce data inputs rather than those who simply build the largest models.

    5 min

  8. Feb 17

    Prosper Consumer Intentions Snapshot - Feb 2026

    The February 2026 Prosper Consumer Snapshot provides a detailed analysis of current economic sentiment and future buying intentions among United States adults. Data from nearly 8,000 participants indicates that while inflation and gas prices remain significant concerns, overall consumer happiness and spending scores are trending upward compared to last year. This podcast highlights a shift toward more relaxed shopping habits, with fewer people strictly limiting themselves to essential purchases. Notable trends include a rise in vehicle purchase plans and the continued growth of Walmart+ memberships, which now reach over a quarter of the population. Ultimately, Prosper's data describes a resilient consumer base that is successfully adapting to price pressures while gradually regaining interest in discretionary spending.

    4 min
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About

Each month Prosper surveys over 8,000 US consumers on a broad selection of spending intentions and retail behaviors. Our unique ‘fill in the blank’ write in questions combined with our emotional drivers, like impulsivity and happiness, result in a data bank used by leading brands, retailers, marketers and financiers to understand the dynamic and ever-changing consumer.

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