The Problem: Economic Data in Silos
Most operators only hear about consumer trends when they’re already on CNBC.
By then, it’s too late.
You catch fragments—inflation mentioned on a podcast, unemployment on Twitter, consumer sentiment in a newsletter. But there’s never been one place to see how US consumers are actually doing.
Economic data lives in silos. The Fed publishes 100+ indicators. Analysts cherry-pick whatever supports their narrative. You’re left guessing which signals actually matter for your business.
Introducing SourceMedium Trends
SourceMedium Trends is the first comprehensive consumer health dashboard built specifically for e-commerce operators.
We synthesize 12 critical indicators into one unified score, tracking three dimensions:
Jobs & Income (40%)
- Employment
- Payrolls
- Wages
- Jobless claims
Purchasing Power (35%)
- Inflation
- Disposable income
- Retail sales
- Consumer sentiment
Financial Stress (25%)
- Credit conditions
- Mortgage rates
- GDP growth
Plus 3 additional context indicators to complete the picture.
One dashboard. Real-time updates. No more piecing together fragments.
Coming Soon: E-commerce Intelligence Layer
This is where it gets powerful.
Soon, we’re layering in earnings data from Shopify, Amazon, Affirm, Block (Afterpay), Klaviyo, Meta, and Google.
Imagine knowing:
- When Shopify GMV diverges from consumer health scores
- How Affirm’s BNPL volume correlates with debt stress indicators
- Whether Meta’s ad performance predicts retail sales shifts
This isn’t just economic data. It’s e-commerce intelligence.
How Operators Are Using This
Smart operators are already using this to:
Time inventory buys when indicators align—avoiding over-ordering when consumer stress is rising.
Adjust CAC targets before consumer stress hits margins—if purchasing power is declining, today’s CAC might not be sustainable tomorrow.
Spot category opportunities while competitors wait for quarterly reports—if a sector is showing strength in real-time data, move before the narrative catches up.
Plan launches based on purchasing power trajectories—align your biggest marketing pushes with periods of consumer confidence.
Get Ahead of the Narrative
The brands that win in 2025 won’t be the ones with the most data.
They’ll be the ones who see the complete picture first.
Access the dashboard: sourcemedium.com/trends
