High Costs of Leisure Activities Amplify Economic Unease Despite Job Growth

While inflation may be stabilizing, the cost of leisure activities like movies and concerts continues to surge, up 10.4% year-over-year, adding to the feeling that going out is becoming increasingly expensive. This trend, alongside other financial stressors like student loan restarts and rising costs of dating, is contributing to a general unease about the economy, despite robust growth in job numbers and openings. As long as prices for leisure activities remain high, sentiment regarding the economy might continue to stay low, indicating a broader economic malaise termed “vibecession.”