In 2012, America is a country facing steep challenges. The economy still tops the list of personal concerns, but a range of other difficulties directly affect businesses across a spectrum of categories. Continuing high unemployment, declining median household incomes, decreasing disposable income, and listless consumer confidence are all factors contributing to deep concerns about many issues. These concerns include, but are not limited to, healthcare costs, standards of living, tax increases, and U.S. politics.

In 2012, America is a country facing steep challenges. The economy still tops the list of personal concerns, but a range of other difficulties directly affect businesses across a spectrum of categories. Continuing high unemployment, declining median household incomes, decreasing disposable income, and listless consumer confidence are all factors contributing to deep concerns about many issues. These concerns include, but are not limited to, healthcare costs, standards of living, tax increases, and U.S. politics.

This report analyzes how these issues dictate American consumer behaviors and attitudesand offers in-depth examination of these and other factors in five distinct but overlapping sections:

Issues of Concern to Americans Today

An Aging Population

Americans’ Shifting Spending Habits

Americans’ Reprioritizing How to Spend Time

American Dreams and Disillusionment

In analyzing these issues, this report draws on a number of Mintel publications that address American lifestyles, as well as trended data from Mintel’s own exclusive consumer surveys. Further, Mintel has applied trends from its Inspire platform to each of the key areas to illustrate how they will impact businesses and consumers in 2012 and beyond.