Macro
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consumer · sector mood
1996
year mood
+0.27
· +0.04 to +0.30 across 12 mo
Monthly mood
bearish −1
+1 bullish
month values ▾
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +0.30 | +0.30 | +0.30 | +0.30 | +0.30 | +0.30 | +0.25 | +0.30 | +0.30 | +0.30 | +0.30 | +0.04 |
A strong economy with robust job growth and low inflation sustained healthy consumer spending throughout the year.
How this mood is scored ▾
Each day the model reads that day's news for the sector and asks, as someone who owns assets or
makes their living in it: how am I feeling this month, and why?
The month's mood is that running answer, tied to the specific events driving it (the story shown
above). It leans on trusted, higher-impact reporting, and on the prior month when a month is
quiet, so one loud headline can't swing it. The read updates daily through
the month; once a month ends, its mood is locked.
This year is read live from the news the pipeline actually collected (hover a bar for its story count).
· last computed Jul 11, 2026
Top consumer stories of 1996
Dec
1996 Tickle Me Elmo shortage drives holiday frenzy and price surge
cbc.ca →
Strong demand for the Tickle Me Elmo doll in 1996 overwhelmed supply, sparking chaotic store rushes and a secondary market with prices soaring to $1,000 from $35. Mattel and retailers like Walmart faced logistical challenges amid nationwide buying frenzy. The shortage highlighted vulnerabilities in toy supply chains during peak holiday seasons.