Introducing the Zeta Economic Index (ZEI): Your Real-Time Economic Barometer

Understanding and predicting economic trends and consumer behavior is essential to stay one step ahead in today’s volatile and hyper-competitive market. The Zeta Economic Index (ZEI) is a powerful new tool to help businesses navigate the complexities of the US economy. By leveraging Zeta’s proprietary data, cutting-edge Generative AI technology, the ZEI provides a real-time, accurate snapshot of economic conditions, allowing for informed decision-making and strategic planning.

The Zeta Data Cloud has long been a cornerstone for marketers seeking AI-driven intelligence to decode consumer behavior and identify growth opportunities. The ZEI builds on this strong foundation, offering a detailed view of the macroeconomic landscape and key drivers of economic growth by analyzing consumer activity in critical vertical markets.

Leveraging Unique Assets for Predictive Power

The ZEI leverages technology, assets and tools that are unique to Zeta and valuable for their predictive power:

• An identity graph of more than 240 million adults in the US.
• An intelligence graph encompassing trillions of behavioral signals across digital, transactional and environmental elements.
• Generative AI agents synthesize real-time intelligence into index scores across eight verticals, including automotive, dining, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, retail, technology and travel.

The ZEI is designed to provide a clear and comprehensive overview of the direction in which the US economy is moving and the current state of economic health. Unlike other providers that rely on survey results, the ZEI combines key external metrics—such as inflation, stock market performance, retail sales, fuel prices, and interest rates—with Zeta’s proprietary data on the real interest and intent of 240 million Americans. This approach ensures that the ZEI offers a more accurate reflection of reality rather than perception and allows for real-time predictions rather than retrospective data.

The ZEI is made up of two core indices, supported by sub-sections that illustrate key consumer trends, serving as inputs to calculate the health and stability of the US economy:

Economic Index Score

The Economic Index Score is a comprehensive measure that combines weighted key parameters to reflect the current health of the US economy. Powered by Zeta’s AI technology, this score is based on consumers’ online and offline activities. A higher score indicates a positive uptick in economic activity and a favorable outlook, providing a clear representation of the overall economic health.

Economic Stability Index

The Economic Stability (ESI) Index is a predicted, blended quarterly score that indicates the US population’s ability to withstand economic downturns. This score reflects the resilience of Americans to economic fluctuations. A high and increasing score signifies that a significant segment of the population is well-positioned to endure economic challenges.

Key Indicators

Beyond the primary ZEI score, we also provide insight into a set of nine key indicators that contribute to macroeconomic trends. These indicators provide a deeper view into why the EIS score moves in a particular direction and are based on real interest and intent data. Marketers can also view vertical-specific trends to help them gauge the performance of specific industries.

• Discretionary Spend Propensity: Indicates consumer confidence and likelihood of ad hoc spending.
• Credit Line Expansion Intent: Reflects consumer intent to expand credit lines.
• Time Browsing Online Index: Measures time spent browsing online, indicating digital engagement.
• New Mover Index: Tracks the movement of new residents, signifying changes in housing trends.
• Out of Home Movement: Monitors physical mobility, providing insights into consumer activity outside the home.
• Job Market Sentiment: Gauges consumer sentiment about the job market.
• Retail Sales Activity: Tracks the volume and value of consumer purchases in the retail sector.
• Automotive Purchase Intent: Measures the interest and likelihood of consumers to buy vehicles.
• Retail Visitation Index: Indicates the frequency and patterns of consumer visits to retail locations.

Looking Ahead

The future of economic analysis lies in transforming data into strategic insights that drive decision-making and growth. The ZEI is not just a tool but a transformative asset, empowering businesses to understand the real-time pulse of the economy through the lens of actual consumer behavior. By leveraging the power of Zeta’s proprietary data and Generative AI technology, marketers and analysts can gain a deeper understanding of economic trends, enabling them to make informed decisions that drive success in an ever-changing market.

The journey toward insightful, data-driven economic forecasting begins here.

View the Zeta Economic Index