Zeta Global, the AI-Powered Marketing Cloud, released the Zeta Economic Index (ZEI) for December 2024. The ZEI is one of the first AI-powered economic indexes, utilizing Zeta’s proprietary Generative AI technology and real-time consumer behavior from over 240 million US consumers to reflect the current state and trajectory of the US economy.

“As the holiday season comes to an end, it’s important to note that according to the Zeta Economic Index, consumer spending is stabilizing at higher levels, signaling strong consumer optimism for the new year.”

For the first time in over three years, the Economic Index Score (EIS), the ZEI’s primary measure of US economic health, has set a record for two consecutive months, reaching its highest levels since April 2021. The December EIS rose to 71.5 points, marking a 0.6 point month-over-month (MoM) increase. This sustained growth reflects continued economic momentum, driven in part by robust holiday shopping activity despite a shorter season this year.

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Similarly, the Economic Stability Index (ESI) increased to 66.9, marking a 0.6% quarter-over-quarter improvement and signaling steady confidence in the economy’s ability to weather fluctuations. While inflation inched up to 2.7%, reflecting a gradual upward trend, it has yet to deter consumer spending, which remained elevated due to seasonal factors, and appears to be stabilizing at higher levels as shoppers adjust to shifting economic conditions.

“By leveraging real-time signals from actual consumer behavior powered by Zeta’s proprietary data cloud, the ZEI provides a distinctive lens on the economy and serves as a critical barometer to help decision makers plan for the coming year,” said David A. Steinberg, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Zeta Global. “As the holiday season comes to an end, it’s important to note that according to the Zeta Economic Index, consumer spending is stabilizing at higher levels, signaling strong consumer optimism for the new year.”

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Additional highlights from the December 2024 ZEI:

• Consumer Technology Interest Rises: In time for the kick-off of CES 2025, the tech sector enters 2025 with clear momentum, driven by a strong December performance. The sector saw a 5.6-point MoM rise in consumer interest, reflecting the appeal of cutting-edge devices and innovative technologies during the holiday season.
• Financial Services Spending Increases: Interest in financial services offerings also grew by 3.0 points MoM, with many consumers relying on flexible payment options to afford high-ticket technology items. The growth aligns with broader trends in buy now, pay later (BNPL) usage, as a notable portion of consumers used BNPL for holiday purchases. The evolving payment landscape underscores a growing demand for accessible ways to invest in premium technology.
• Holiday activity impacts retail and travel sectors: While retail in-store visitation saw a decrease of 0.5% MoM due to online sales dominating the season, overall retail activity increased as expected with a 4.2% MoM increase. Similarly, aligned to the busy travel season in December, travel activity grew at 2.0 points MoM.
• Job Market Sentiment Stabilizes: Job Market Sentiment tempered slightly with a 0.9% MoM decrease in December, following a 13.9% surge in November driven by temporary holiday positions. Despite this moderation, sentiment remains generally positive, reflecting a stabilizing employment landscape.

The ZEI utilizes generative AI to analyze trillions of behavioral signals providing comprehensive scores that reflect economic sentiment, trends, and dynamics. Unlike surveys, this index utilizes over 20 proprietary inputs that recalibrate each month based on actual behavior, enhancing the understanding of a key driver of economic growth – consumer activity.