RiskReversal Pod Never Doubt The American Consumer with Michelle Meyer, Mastercard's Chief Economist
Sep 19, 2025
Michelle Meyer, Chief Economist at Mastercard, dives deep into consumer spending trends and macroeconomic shifts. She recounts her journey from Lehman Brothers during the crisis, highlighting lessons learned from the housing bubble. Meyer discusses the Fed's role in balancing inflation and employment amid economic uncertainty. She shares insights on tariffs, consumer behavior, and the importance of real-time data in predicting market trends. Meyer also emphasizes the resilience of the U.S. consumer, suggesting that their strength should not be underestimated as we approach year-end.
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Dollar Moves Shape Travel Patterns
- Dollar weakness reflects relative policy, budget expansion and credibility questions, not a collapse of reserve status.
- Currency shifts change travel flows as savvy consumers chase value across destinations.
Find 'Travel Twins' For Value
- Seek 'travel twins' as alternative destinations when currency moves price out top cities.
- Use spending data to identify similar-value travel opportunities for tourists and investors.
Payments Data Informs Business Strategy
- Mastercard supports business decisions on pricing, expansion and customer priorities using payments data.
- Their focus shifted from investor signals to real-world consumer behavior and firm strategy.