TLDR: The July 2025 Zeta Economic Index (ZEI) indicates a nuanced economic landscape where consumer optimism is budding despite some discretionary spending pullbacks. Powered by Zeta Global’s AI Marketing Cloud, the index shows consumers are spending smarter, with increases in online browsing and new mover activity, while technology and automotive sectors saw gains. The overall Economic Index Score saw a modest dip, but underlying trends suggest a selective yet positive consumer mindset.
NEW YORK – Zeta Global (NYSE: ZETA), a leading AI Marketing Cloud, has released its July 2025 Zeta Economic Index (ZEI), revealing a complex yet encouraging picture of consumer sentiment. The index, which leverages Zeta’s generative AI and real-time behavioral data from over 245 million U.S. consumers, aims to provide granular insights into how households are balancing caution with optimism in the current economic climate.
Despite a slight month-over-month (MoM) dip of 0.3% in the overall Economic Index Score to 67.8, the July data highlights a more intricate economic narrative. While Discretionary Spend Propensity eased by 4.0% MoM, indicating a pullback on non-essential purchases, and Credit Line Expansion Intent fell by 5.6% MoM as consumers reassess borrowing, other indicators point to renewed activity. Notably, Time Browsing Online increased by 2.2% MoM, suggesting consumers are actively planning for future activities such as summer travel and back-to-school preparations. Furthermore, the New Mover Index saw a significant jump of 11.2% MoM, signaling an early rebound in relocation intent as late summer approaches.
Sector-specific trends reinforce this selective consumer behavior. The Technology sector led gains with a 3.2-point increase, driven by broader AI and digital adoption. The Automotive sector also rebounded by 3.1 points due to increased top-of-funnel interest, even though purchase intent remains cautious. Conversely, the Retail sector experienced a 3.8-point slide, while Entertainment and Dining dipped by 1.9 and 0.9 points, respectively.
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David A. Steinberg, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Zeta Global, commented on the findings, stating, “July’s ZEI reveals that strength today isn’t about spending more, it’s about spending smarter. By capturing these green shoots of optimism alongside areas of restraint, the ZEI equips marketers to turn uncertainty into clarity and helps them anticipate demand rather than chase it.” The ZEI synthesizes over 20 proprietary indicators, including spending, browsing, and credit signals across various sectors, providing a deeper understanding of consumer intent beyond broad GDP trends. The report concludes that growth has not vanished but has migrated towards sectors offering relevance, innovation, or seasonal urgency, reflecting a market where consumers are highly selective in their decisions.
