2025’s heightened economic uncertainty, plummeting consumer sentiment, and widening income divides forced companies to recalibrate messaging strategies and brace for scrutiny over pricing and profitability.
Gravity Research’s latest report highlights the five statistics that most clearly defined the economic landscape in 2025, offering a comprehensive view of how consumer confidence, spending behavior, and corporate preparedness could continue to evolve amid persistent inflation and political polarization. Drawing on national consumer sentiment tracking, federal economic data, and survey results from Gravity Insiders — an executive panel including communications leaders across the Fortune 500 — this analysis outlines how economic headwinds have intensified, and what those trends signal for the year ahead.
Key Findings
Consumer sentiment fell to near historic lows. National consumer sentiment tracking dipped well below the 5 year average of 69.2, with lower-third households registering 44.5 satisfaction and upper-third consumers scoring 55.2. While all groups saw declines compared to 2024, the discrepancy between low- to middle-income houses and high-income consumers reveals the added dissatisfaction that the lower income brackets experienced towards high prices and wage growth.
Top earners drove half of all consumer spending. High-income households earning over $250,000 accounted for nearly 50% of consumer spending by mid-2025—up from 43% in 2020. This trend has fueled fears over a widening wealth gap as middle- and low-income Americans weathered declining affordability.
64% of CEOs are preparing for an economic slowdown. Corporate executives showed heightened caution, with nearly two-thirds anticipating a mild economic slowdown and slightly increased inflation pressure over the next 12-18 months. Meanwhile, 43% of communications executives reported either currently having or actively developing recession response strategies.
Download the full report to understand how economic headwinds are reshaping consumer behavior, corporate strategy, and reputational risk in 2026.
