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With the economic and policy landscape evolving by the minute, gaining insight into how Americans plan to navigate the summer season—and beyond—is more important than ever. As a part of our “Uncertainty to Action” webinar series, CivicScience VP of Client Success Casey Taylor shared key takeaways during our June 18th webinar, highlighting opportunities for growth and pivot strategies to stay ahead in this dynamic environment.
Here’s a quick recap of the webinar – and how to access an exclusive webinar clip.
1. Traveling to visit friends is down this summer.
Summer travel plans are shifting amid uncertainty, particularly when it comes to reconnecting with friends. Compared to last summer, nearly one-third of Americans report being less likely to travel this season to visit friends. Conversely, those who are more likely to travel for that reason tend to express greater optimism for the future, suggesting that travel may be increasingly driven by emotional factors like hopefulness and stability.
Data available in the full webinar deck explores additional travel trends – from traveling with pets and embracing alcohol-free “dry-tripping” to the popularity of staycations. Learn how you can access the full deck here.
Answer our Poll: Which of these hypothetical vacations seems the most exciting to you?
2. Recreational sports leagues are set to be big this summer, especially as tariffs have impacted travel plans for many Americans.
New CivicScience data show that adults who have canceled or opted out of summer travel due to tariffs are more likely than average to say they plan to join a recreational sports league. Interest in tennis and pickleball has climbed the most since April 2025, up four percentage points, followed closely by football/flag football and bowling, each up three percentage points.
Weigh In: What is your favorite team sport? 🥍🏉🏑
3. Nearly 3 in 10 respondents are shopping for next year’s back-to-school season right now due to cost and shortage concerns.
More than half of back-to-school (B2S) shoppers already have school supplies shopping on their minds. Just over a quarter of B2S shoppers usually start their shopping this time of year, but 17% report shopping earlier than usual because of prices, and 11% report doing so because of shortages, hinting that families may be spending more strategically as the new school year approaches.
Use this Data: CivicScience clients have access to real-time insights like these, allowing them to stay ahead of the curve and have a pulse on their customers’ spending intentions.
