In this episode of The Journal, Jessica Mendoza and Hannah Aaron Lang explore Gen Z's fascination with unconventional recession indicators found in pop culture and fashion trends. They discuss how anxieties about the economy, shaped by events like the Great Recession and the pandemic, drive young people to seek economic insights in unusual places, such as the return of low-rise jeans or the popularity of dance music. The conversation touches on traditional economic indicators versus these new, culturally-driven signs, featuring insights from data analyst Mare Lapuerta, who analyzes fashion trends for economic clues. While economists might dismiss these correlations, the hosts acknowledge the importance of consumer sentiment and how pervasive recession talk can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, influencing spending habits and potentially leading to an actual economic downturn.
