It is fair to say we are in a period of negative consumer sentiment. As our money is spent from a dwindling pot for less, the knock-on effect is that poor consumer sentiment or bad vibes, as economist Kyla Scanlon puts it, becomes a “vibecession”. Matt Stoller uses “boomcession”, and both terms describe the disconnect between consumer sentiment and a booming economy, not necessarily benefiting those same consumers. This happens when consumer sentiment declines due to the high cost of staples, and even some items — like butter — feel like a luxury for some. Consumer sentiment is the bottom leg of the letter K, and the high-ticket items are at the top; both happening at the same time in the same place.

Source: Irish Examiner March 02, 2026 14:12 UTC