Zeta Global’s latest Zeta Economic Index (ZEI) for April 2025 offers a nuanced snapshot of the U.S. economy, blending generative AI insights with behavioral signals from over 245 million American consumers. Despite flat sentiment and economic uncertainty, Zeta’s data shows that consumers remain engaged, albeit with increased caution.

Consumer Behavior: Stability with Selective Engagement

• ZEI Score: Increased modestly to 69.1, marking a 1.1% month-over-month (MoM) rise.

• Sentiment Softening: Consumers aren't withdrawing—they're being more selective.

• Browsing Activity: Up 10.5% MoM, indicating early-stage purchase intent.

• Credit Intent: Grew by 6.0% MoM, suggesting openness to spending with caution.

• CEO Insight: David A. Steinberg highlights that real-time behavioral data captures subtle consumer shifts better than traditional surveys.

Sentiment Metrics: Confidence Cools but Actions Persist

• Discretionary Spend Propensity: Fell by 5.5% MoM.

• Job Market Sentiment: Declined by 3.7% MoM, signaling employment-related uncertainty.

• New Mover Index: Dropped 4.1% MoM, pointing to hesitancy around major life decisions.

• Consumer Outlook: More restrained, yet behaviors still reflect economic participation.

Sector Highlights: Diverging Consumer Priorities

• Dining: Down 2.2 points due to changing habits and cost sensitivity.

• Technology: Up 4.4 points, driven by AI-powered engagement and innovation.

• Healthcare: Rose 2.8 points, boosted by wellness trends and seasonal factors.

• Entertainment & Retail: Each gained 2.7 points, likely due to spring campaigns and cultural events.

• Financial Services: Increased by 1.9 points as consumers tracked market fluctuations closely.

The April 2025 Zeta Economic Index reveals a market where consumer caution doesn’t equate to disengagement. Behavioral patterns such as increased browsing and growing credit intent suggest that while sentiment is cooling, consumer activity remains stable. Brands leveraging real-time behavioral intelligence—like Zeta’s AI-powered insights—are better positioned to adapt and thrive in this selectively active economy.