Weekly Strategy Perspectives: Just the FAQs Part II – The Enigmatic Consumer

BMO Private Wealth - Jun 19, 2026

Many of the questions we’ve received from clients and colleagues during our recent travels relate to consumers.

office buildings with line graph superimposed.

“I don’t know what the unemployment rate will be in 2028, but I guarantee you that 100 percent of it is going to be blamed on AI by the American public and by lots of opportunistic politicians.”
– Daron Acemoglu, Nobel-winning economist

The Through Line: Many of the questions we’ve received from clients and colleagues during our recent travels relate to consumers. The queries were plentiful – employment prospects, the status of balance sheets, willingness (and wherewithal) to sustain consumption, souring sentiment, the growing chasm between “haves” and “have-nots” and the impact of AI. This week’s piece unpacks “all the things” and aims to weave them back together into a coherent overview.

To read the full report, click here.

 

 

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