The State of the Consumer: Resilient, Selective, and Still Spending

In the latest episode of William Blair Thinking Presents, group head of consumer research Sharon Zackfia and consumer analyst Dylan Carden discuss the key findings from their State of the Consumer: The 2026 Edition report, examining why consumer spending has remained resilient despite inflation, higher energy costs, and economic uncertainty. They also explore the growing divide between income groups, shifting definitions of value, emerging margin pressures, and the consumer trends investors should watch as 2026 unfolds.