According to a University of Michigan study that tracked over 3000 Gen Xers, Gen X men are significantly more interested in food than their counterparts in older generations. These guys can cook – they prepare about 8 meals a week on average. They also spend a significant amount of time grocery shopping and consuming food related media such as cooking shows and magazines. Gen X women still cook more, preparing 10-12 meals a week. But compared to males in predecessor generations, Gen X men make up a much more receptive market for food and cooking related products and media. Part… Read More
Categories: Generations, Training IndustryMore Americans than ever are working past the age of 65, according to Labor Department statistics cited by The New York Times. As longevity and health care improves, and as the economy remains tight, more Matures, along with the leading edge of the Baby Boomers, are deciding to stay on the job. Employment among every age group above 65, including those above 75, has risen steadily. The ranks of the 65+ in the workforce swelled noticeably in the last year as the first Boomers reached the traditional retirement-age milestone. “The fact of the matter is that this aging-but-not-yet-aged segment of… Read More
Categories: Baby Boomers, Matures, Work, WorkplaceNearly half of Millennials are “under-banked,” according to a study by Think Finance, and are choosing to use financial convenience products rather than traditional banking services. Under-banked Millennials are spread evenly across income brackets all the way up to those making relatively high salaries (for their age), up to $75K a year. Under-banked Millennials are opting for instant gratification and ease of use through check cashers, payday loans, and prepaid debit cards. As a result, they are utilizing services that are more expensive but faster and easier than traditional banking. Subjects in the study say they find traditional banking too… Read More
Categories: Blog, Downloadable Media, UncategorizedDespite the fact that Millennials have the highest rate of unemployment of any generation and are deeply in debt, they still use a big chunk of whatever money they have on discretionary and even luxury spending. According to one marketing agency, the average Millennial spends $784 a month on discretionary expenses like entertainment and eating out. According to American Express, they are the largest demographic for new purchases of technological gadgets and fashion apparel (up by 33%). They’re even increasing their purchases of jewelry (up by 27%). In part, Millennials’ parents are subsidizing their lifestyles. Over half of them cover… Read More
Categories: Blog, Recession EconomyA new Allianz survey shows that Baby Boomers think it’s more important for a family to pass on its non-material legacy than to pass on its wealth. 86% of Boomers said it was important for elders to pass on their family’s history and stories to their descendants. 64% place importance on the inheritance of family possessions. But only 9% consider a financial inheritance to be vital. The Matures, the Boomers parents, generally agree with their offspring though they place a relatively higher priority on leaving behind some wealth for their kids. In comparison with the same survey conducted in 2005,… Read More
Categories: Baby Boomers, Blog, MaturesThe debate continues as to whether Millennials are self-absorbed adult-olescents with an overblown sense of entitlement or whether they are community-minded citizens willing to chip in for the benefit of the environment and the world around them. A new survey of Millennials provides evidence for the latter, revealing that 75% of Millennials gave money to charity last year. In addition, 70% reported that they helped solicit donations to philanthropies or encouraged their peers to give. While that’s an impressive giving rate, the amounts given are less so. About 6 in 10 report that all their gifts were under $100, perhaps… Read More
Categories: Charity, Menu 1Boomers are losing their expected inheritance to their parents’ longevity, according to an analysis in the Wall Street Journal. Matures who have reached their late 60s have as much as a 50-50 chance of living well into their 80s and many into their 90s. Thanks to medical and longevity gains, 85-and-over is the fastest growing age group in the nation. But thanks to that longevity, the Boomers expected inheritance is shrinking as long-lived retirees use their resources to support themselves. It’s long been estimated that over $40 trillion in inheritance would change hands in the first half of this century…. Read More
Categories: Baby Boomers, Matures, WorkBusiness travel among Millennials was up 40% in 2011 and the business travel industry is learning to accommodate them. For example, Millennials like paperless travel, using apps and websites to handle all of their arrangements and transactions. “All of my tickets can go on my phone,” says one Millennial. “I scan it at the T.S.A. and scan it at the gate. There’s no reason to print out airline tickets again.” They prefer travel communication in the form of texts, emails, or social media messages. And they expect customer assistance from all of their travel vendors to be available 24/7. “They… Read More
Categories: Blog, TravelRecent Census and Federal Reserve figures created jaw-dropping headlines when they revealed that most Americans’ net worth is no greater than it was 20 years ago. While the headlines suggest stagnation, the numbers revealed that net worth did increase but then fell back to what it was in 1992. During that decline, no generation lost more net worth than Generation X, by percentage. According to the Census Bureau, Generation X households lost close to 60% of their net worth between 2005 and 2010. In terms of actual dollars, the biggest losers were the younger half of the Baby Boomers, sometimes… Read More
Categories: UncategorizedBaby Boomers give the most positive online ratings, Gen Xers the most negative ones, and Millennials fall in the middle, according to a Bazaarvoice study of 6 million online opinions. A majority of all generations are now online and all participate in reviewing and rating products on web sites. In fact, 82% of all online reviews and ratings are positive, according to the study. Baby Boomers now make up the largest group of online reviewers at 45%. They are also the most likely to give the highest (5-star) ratings to products. Not surprisingly, Gen Xers tend to be the harshest critics… Read More
Categories: Baby Boomers, Blog