The rise of the loner consumer
Solo spenders are a new economic force
In the pandemic years, people became used to staying inside. Outlays on services—everything from restaurant meals and foreign travel to elective medical care—collapsed. Demand for goods jumped, with a rush for computers and exercise bikes. Such patterns proved resilient even as life got back to normal. In 2023 we called people spending in this manner “hermit consumers”.
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This article appeared in the Finance & economics section of the print edition under the headline “At least they are leaving the house”
Finance & economics
June 14th 2025
From the June 14th 2025 edition
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