Strategy in TECH...
The internet’s leading streaming guide, JustWatch, has named the top ten most rewatched movies over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Based on the analysis of data compiled over the last three years, analysts have identified those movies that families return to again and again when they gather for the holiday.
Ferrari NV (NYSE: RACE), manufacturer of the leading luxury sports car embraced by many wealthy car enthusiasts, had its scariest ride ever on Wall Street last week, when its stock value had the single largest daily drop in the company’s history. In just one day, the value of RACE shares closed down by 15%. Does this mean trouble for the Luxury market?
In a new survey released today (Thursday), homeowners expressed pessimism and uncertainty about both the economy in general and the housing market specifically. They are also stressing over personal finances, with nearly half of all homeowners (49%) citing their personal finances as the greatest source of stress they face right now.
A new survey of U.S. companies by KPMG reports that they are already feeling the pain of the Administration’s new tariff program, which is still under negotiation with countries around the world. Even at current levels, U.S. businesses have been impacted, reporting they are experiencing declining gross margins…will be forced to further raise prices…are already being impacted by consumer pushback…have suffered sales declines from retaliatory tariff increases in other countries, and more.
Overall, it’s a pretty sobering look at the impact of tariffs on companies now, and a scary foretelling of what they anticipate in a darkened future.
Yelp, the social media site that was started to help you find the best local Chinese takeout, but now covers a very wide range of interests, such as home improvement, has released a comprehensive report of the latest trends in site user interest. In a report titled 2025 Summer Home & Outdoor Trends, Yelp noted a recent surge in user interest in a wide variety of home remodeling projects, including a huge leap in those making project requests for “home theater installation,” up 562% as compared to 2024.
Thanks to the administration’s continued postponement of higher tariffs in international trade, consumer sentiment rebounded in a preliminary June reading. This is the first such improvement in six months as diminished tariff pressure resulted in a more positive consumer outlook.
However, the improved reading is still well below the reading in December 2024.
I recently received the final data on SVOD (subscription video on demand) market share for 2024 for the top streaming service providers. This data came from JustWatch, an international streaming guide with 17 million monthly users in the U.S. and 55 million monthly users in 150 countries worldwide.
The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI), one of two major indexes tracking consumer sentiment on the U.S. economy, dropped in January, following what appeared to be a turning point to the negative side in late December. The CCI, a monthly survey of consumers conducted by The Conference Board and widely followed by economists as a reliable gauge that probes consumers’ thoughts on the economy – both in a rating of their present conditions…and in their rating of the near-term future prospects.
What does this unexpected decline mean for the economy?
This past Sunday, on the eve of this week’s launch of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) released updated projections for total Tech industry sales in the year, as is its custom. According to the trade association, total Tech industry sales are expected to reach $537 billion – the highest level in history.
The overall housing market has been an economic laggard as the country has seen its economy rebound in the post-pandemic era. The reason for this is primarily due to an unusual combination of high interest rates AND high home prices AND limited available inventory of homes for sale. It is a triple witching that has bedeviled the housing industry in the post-pandemic era.
But is housing about to turn up?
