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MASTERCARD ECONOMICS INSTITUTE

Travel Trends 2024: Breaking Boundaries

Fifth annual travel report on evolving trends and the state of travel in 2024 and beyond.

Insights from the Economics Institute

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How Europeans beat the heat teaser
Blog
Did you know? How European consumers beat the heat

In summertime, temperatures rise and consumers in Europe adapt their spending. Which industries see a boost? How does online shopping perform?

Episode 2 - Michelle Meyer video webpage - MEI insights_Teaser
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How can understanding economic metrics help consumers navigate in a changing economy?

Episode 2 of Your Personal Economist with MEI Chief Economist Michelle Meyer, discussing how understanding economic metrics can help consumers navigate in a changing economy.

How are the latest trends in consumer spending reshaping the economy? teaser
Video
How are the latest trends in consumer spending reshaping the economy?

Episode 1 of Your Personal Economist with Michelle Meyer, Chief Economist at MEI discusses the latest trends in consumer spending and how they’re reshaping the economy.

Economic Institute Blog

Key insights and deep dives into topics coming to you throughout the year

How Europeans beat the heat teaser
Blog
Did you know? How European consumers beat the heat

In summertime, temperatures rise and consumers in Europe adapt their spending. Which industries see a boost? How does online shopping perform?

Episode 2 - Michelle Meyer video webpage - MEI insights_Teaser
Video
How can understanding economic metrics help consumers navigate in a changing economy?

Episode 2 of Your Personal Economist with MEI Chief Economist Michelle Meyer, discussing how understanding economic metrics can help consumers navigate in a changing economy.

How are the latest trends in consumer spending reshaping the economy? teaser
Video
How are the latest trends in consumer spending reshaping the economy?

Episode 1 of Your Personal Economist with Michelle Meyer, Chief Economist at MEI discusses the latest trends in consumer spending and how they’re reshaping the economy.

Did you know? A lift in US small business longevity teaser
Blog
Did you know? A lift in US small business longevity

U.S. small business survival rates are bouncing back after falling during the pandemic. What does this tell us about the health of U.S. small businesses?

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Clicks and commutes

Working from home, catalyzed by the pandemic, is now a permanent feature of U.S. business. It's also contributed to a lift in online shopping. What’s ahead?

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An uneven commute

Areas without access to public transportation put residents at an economic disadvantage. Where are the U.S. transit deserts? How do they affect residents?

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Report
Travel Trends 2024: Breaking Boundaries

Record numbers of passengers traveling and record spending. Longer vacations. New top destinations. In 2024, the travel industry is breaking boundaries.

Did you know? Europe blog teaser
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Did you know? Where summer travelers go in Europe to splurge, save or party

Europe is a summer travel hotspot. Where are budget-conscious travelers headed? Which destinations are most luxurious? And where is nightlife the liveliest?

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Eventful Economy: Total eclipse of the economy

The 2024 total solar eclipse was a highly anticipated event in the United States, with millions of Americans across the country traveling to witness the celestial phenomenon. How did this impact the economy?

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Eventful Economy: An economic hole in one

The annual Masters Tournament has golf fans flocking to Augusta, Georgia, providing a lift to the local economy from a concentration of spending. Golf isn’t just a sporting event but an economic one, too.

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Eventful Economy: Carnival, Rio de Janeiro

During Carnival 2024, tourists spent more money at Rio de Janeiro’s restaurants, bars and grocery stores. How else did this year’s event impact the economy?

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Did you know? Where skiers go to splurge or save

Ski resorts worldwide are benefiting from continued consumer demand for experiences. From luxury resorts to budget-friendly options, where are skiers going to splurge or save?

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Did you know? US Return rates have stopped climbing

Return rates increased as US consumers grew accustomed to easy returns. But retailers incur additional costs. What was the US return rate trend in 2023?

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Eventful Economy: The Swift Lift

As her concert tour travels across five continents with 151 scheduled shows, Taylor Swift delivers a boost to the local economies. What is the economic impact of The Eras Tour?

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Australian Open 2024: Serving an ace for the economy

As tennis fans watch the first Grand Slam, the Melbourne hospitality industry is having its own rally with visitors hungry for an experience beyond the courts.

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ICC Cricket World Cup: A boost to India’s economy

The Indian hospitality industry saw a huge boost from the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, underscoring the true impact of big events on local economies.

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Inflation in Europe and the "high-low" economy

Inflation in Europe has led to a high-low economy that has squeezed out the middle. What does this mean for consumers, and how long will it last?

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How the ICC Cricket World Cup benefits the Indian economy

The ICC Cricket World Cup brings people together and has a positive ripple effect on local economies. How does the event benefit the Indian economy?

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US small business growth in a shifting economy

Small business growth has been spurred by the pace of business creation, the rise of online marketplaces and resilience in consumer spending. What’s next?

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Tourism fuels economic diversification in the Gulf states

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region stands out as one of the most resilient tourist hubs in its post-Covid recovery.

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Holiday spending 2023

Lower inflation plus a strong job market equal an empowered shopper. Who is the U.S. holiday shopper of 2023 and how will they impact holiday spending?

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London's economic clock

How has the UK economy evolved over the last few years? London is seeing a shift in consumer spending both during the day and night as a result of hybrid work patterns.

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When the consumer spends, the job market grows

The U.S. economy is proving resilient, thanks in part to a positive feedback loop between consumer spending and job market growth.

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Australia's Economic Clock

An analysis of the day and night economies in Sydney and Melbourne Australia, looking at changes in consumer spending by day of week and time of day.

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NYC's Economic Clock

The changing spending patterns in New York City offer valuable insights into the evolving nature of work and its impact on the NYC economy.

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  • and near real-time measures like SpendingPulse™ drawn from aggregated and anonymized sales activity across Mastercard’s global network, and proven external data sources

  • , with a hand-picked team of economists, data scientists, visual artists, storytellers, and others from across the public and private sectors

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  • that allow users to customize their own pathways and derive hyper-relevant information to address their needs

  • to services such as Test & Learn® that allow clients to test the true impact of their ideas, moving from insights to action with certainty