TheFutureParty
A Community-based Media Company
Gen Z and lower-income Americans are investing at higher rates than any previous generation, according to a new study from the JPMorganChase Institute. The Big Bet: The increase in investing coincides with record declines in first-time home ownership — the most tried-and-true method of wealth building. With housing prices becoming so cost-prohibitive, many young people […]
Young Americans are shifting their budgets not because their finances are that bad, but because the headlines make it seem like the economy overall is that bad — a new phenomenon known as “vibe-based budgeting.” Why It Hits: One thing that’s for sure is that there’s a lot of uncertainty in the economy right now, […]
Gen Z is already feeling the work burnout and is now planning mini-retirements every year or so to recharge. Why It Hits: Thanks to a challenging job market, depressed wages, and the threat of displacement by AI, workers are feeling the squeeze from all sides, leading to burnout. Taking periodic breaks from work tracks when Gen Z already […]
Gen Z has run out of money this year, resulting in decreased spending across various retail, product, and service categories. The Big Picture: There’s nothing more desirable to brands than young consumers — the generation that drives trends and builds lifelong customers. When they stop spending, it can have a ripple effect across culture. Behind […]
Young people — especially college grads — face an extremely punishing job market. The Big Picture: The pool of available jobs, especially those that require a college degree, is shrinking. Over 40% of college graduates in their early- to mid-20s are working jobs that don’t require a college degree, and one in five job seekers […]
Dropping out of college has long been glamorized by Silicon Valley. But now, Big Tech has grown so hostile to academia that Gen Z hopefuls are seeking to avoid it entirely. Why It Hits: Big Tech is increasingly enticing young men to forgo college –– which some consider wasteful and dogmatic –– in favor of […]
Gen Z is using buy now, pay later platforms to fund their vacations. Why It Hits (The Wallet): Young people don’t typically have the means to afford increasingly expensive airline tickets and hotel stays. But they also don’t want to miss out on the action of experiencing them, especially as social media creates the illusion […]
When Gen Z goes out for a night on the town, they generally no longer keep open a bar tab. Instead, they close out after every transaction, no matter how many times they go up to buy a drink. That’s having a ripple effect across the nightlife economy. Why It Hits: Gen Z is drinking […]
Washington, D.C.-based, youth-focused polling company Generation Lab created a new app called VERB.AI, which is offering young people at least $50 per month to track them online and use the insights for market research. The Big Picture: It’s old news that every major website and social media platform tracks its users, leading some states to […]
A new report from Kampgrounds of America (KOA) has found that young people, especially Gen Zers, are supercharging demand for camping — especially its fancy cousin, glamping. Why It Hits: The typical vacation is getting even more expensive, thanks to inflation, tariffs, crackdowns on short-term rentals, and other economic factors. That doesn’t mean that people have […]