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The Wealth Effect: How the Stock Market Increasingly Drives US Consumer Spending

Tuesday Nov 4 2025 00:00

2 min

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Growing Wealth Effect
2.1 Why is this effect stronger?
3. The Role of Artificial Intelligence
4. Implications
5. Who Owns Stocks?
6. Conclusion

Introduction

There has always been a distinction between the stock market and the real economy, or Wall Street and "Main Street." However, this line is becoming increasingly blurred as rising asset prices incentivize consumers to spend more freely.

The Growing Wealth Effect

The "wealth effect" has become more pronounced in the last 15 years. Studies suggest that every 1% increase in stock wealth leads to a 0.05% increase in consumer spending. Similarly, every $1 increase in housing wealth leads to a $0.04 increase in spending.

Why is this effect stronger?

Several factors contribute to this increasing effect:

Increased financial optimism: As their wealth increases, individuals become more optimistic about their financial situation, leading them to spend more.
Retirement: With a growing proportion of retirees in the population, more individuals are relying on their wealth to support their consumption after retirement.
Digital Media: Ubiquitous digital media means consumers react even faster to market news, further amplifying the wealth effect.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving the stock market to new highs, with the exchange increasingly reliant on AI stocks like NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Google. Estimates suggest that the AI-related stock market surge could add nearly $250 billion to annual spending.

Implications

The economy is becoming increasingly dependent on the stock market, making it more vulnerable to market volatility. There is also a greater incentive for policymakers to prop up the stock market, as declining asset prices could slow spending and economic growth.

Who Owns Stocks?

Stock ownership is no longer limited to the wealthy. Studies suggest that over half of Americans with annual incomes between $30,000 and $79,999 are capital market investors.

Conclusion

The economy is increasingly intertwined with the fate of the stock market, creating an implicit backstop for risky assets. Investors and economic observers should be aware of this dynamic and closely monitor stock market fluctuations and their potential impact on consumer spending and economic growth.

Risk Warning: this article represents only the author’s views and is for reference only. It does not constitute investment advice or financial guidance, nor does it represent the stance of the Markets.com platform.When considering shares, indices, forex (foreign exchange) and commodities for trading and price predictions, remember that trading CFDs involves a significant degree of risk and could result in capital loss.Past performance is not indicative of any future results. This information is provided for informative purposes only and should not be construed to be investment advice. Trading cryptocurrency CFDs and spread bets is restricted for all UK retail clients. 

Written by:

Liam James

The Wealth Effect: How the Stock Market Increasingly Drives US Consumer Spending

Introduction

The Growing Wealth Effect

Why is this effect stronger?

The Role of Artificial Intelligence

Implications

Who Owns Stocks?

Conclusion

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