The hottest Consumption Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Does China have a huge electricity advantage over the United States?

Sustainability by numbers • 502 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Consumption
  1. China uses most of its electricity for industry, while the US uses most of its electricity in homes and commercial services.
  2. China’s total electricity generation has grown rapidly and is much larger in absolute terms than the US, though the US still leads on overall per-person electricity use.
  3. Because China concentrates so much power in industry, its industrial electricity per person is similar to or slightly higher than the US, which points to real industrial capacity that simple per-capita comparisons can hide.

Investing in people, in Rmb20 instalments

Pekingnology • 207 implied HN points • 10 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Consumption
  1. The Rmb20 pension rise to Rmb163 is widely seen as a token that leaves many rural elderly still in deep poverty, and delegates are pushing for much larger, faster increases.
  2. The slogan of “investing in people” conflicts with budget choices that favor visible projects and targeted subsidies over simple, direct cash transfers to poor households.
  3. Bigger rural pensions would be both a moral repayment to countryside contributors and an effective way to boost domestic demand, since poor pensioners are likely to spend extra income quickly.

Top Links 977 Copper, copper, copper. How Americans feel about AI & dumbing down pop.

Chartbook • 457 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
💰 Finance Consumption
  1. Copper is a major focus, suggesting shifts or stresses in the copper market are driving attention and debate.
  2. Public attitudes toward AI and worries about popular culture getting "dumber" are highlighted, showing cultural and technological anxieties.
  3. Income inequality is reshaping US consumption: the top 20% of households now account for about 39% of all spending and are even more concentrated in certain new categories.

Gao Peiyong: boosting consumption requires profound redistribution reform

Pekingnology • 60 implied HN points • 14 Feb 26
💰 Finance Consumption
  1. Household consumption is weak mainly because people’s job prospects, incomes, and confidence are shaky, so restoring expectations and income security is central to reviving demand.
  2. Fixing this requires deep redistribution: shift fiscal spending away from large physical projects and fiscal assets toward public services and direct support for people, and make fiscal policy more equal between urban and rural areas.
  3. Pair short‑term policy measures to unlock immediate spending with long‑term institutional reform — especially a universal, non‑discriminatory social security and transfer system — and make expectations management a routine part of macroeconomic governance.

Liu Shijin urges RMB internationalisation to boost consumption, balance trade

Pekingnology • 75 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
💰 Finance Consumption
  1. China needs to boost domestic consumption to fix a demand shortfall, focusing especially on services and basic public services and raising incomes for rural and low‑income groups.
  2. The growth model should shift from investment/export‑led expansion to one driven by innovation and consumption, using ‘terminal demand’ to guide effective investment and letting inefficient capacity exit.
  3. Accelerating RMB internationalisation—by expanding the offshore RMB pool through RMB‑settled imports, making RMB settlement a market‑access condition, and developing offshore RMB financial products—can strengthen the currency’s global role and support domestic consumption growth.
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The truth about Big Toilet Paper

HEATED • 1867 implied HN points • 17 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Consumption
  1. Toilet paper production leads to deforestation and significant carbon emissions
  2. Consumer choices and advocacy can drive sustainability in the toilet paper industry
  3. The preference for toilet paper over bidets in America is influenced by historical factors and societal perceptions

Technology to the Rescue!

Life Since the Baby Boom • 1844 implied HN points • 28 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Consumption
  1. People have always believed that technology will solve human problems, from the telephone to AI. But no matter the advancements, our fundamental human nature remains the same.
  2. Many technologists share a faith in technology similar to religious beliefs, seeing it as a way to achieve progress and even redemption for humanity.
  3. Connecting people through technology, like social media, often leads to conflicts instead of harmony, reminding us that simply being connected doesn't guarantee understanding or peace.

📉 Well, they ran the numbers on degrowth — and it's not good

Faster, Please! • 1279 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Consumption
  1. Degrowth means living better with less stuff, focusing more on well-being than just economic growth. It suggests we should intentionally reduce production and consumption to fit within our planet's limits.
  2. However, following the degrowth idea doesn't guarantee a perfect, eco-friendly world. It might not look like a dreamy utopia where nature and humanity perfectly blend together.
  3. Research shows that reducing consumption to meet basic needs is challenging and requires significant changes in how we live. Simply downsizing isn't easy and can have complex implications.

Conspicuous Consumption

Something to Consider • 39 implied HN points • 28 Jul 24
🎭️ Culture Consumption
  1. People often consume things not just for their value, but to show off and maintain social status. This is called conspicuous consumption.
  2. Sometimes, conspicuous consumption can lead to positive changes in society by encouraging people to work more, especially when new and interesting goods are available.
  3. Shifting our focus from comparing social status to comparing consumption might lead to better relationships and institutions.

15 things I consumed this week

Maybe Baby • 659 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Consumption
  1. Democratic officials misrepresented the economy, causing confusion among voters. It's important to get the facts right so people can understand what's really happening.
  2. The writer mentions a personal struggle with family illnesses, showing how common it is for sickness to spread in households. It's a reminder that health can change quickly.
  3. The author shares a mix of articles and perspectives they consumed, emphasizing the value of staying informed through different sources. Reading widely can help us understand various viewpoints better.

Wages Are Rising Faster than We Thought

The Overshoot • 255 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
💰 Finance Consumption
  1. Wages in America are increasing more rapidly than previously estimated.
  2. The slowdown in wage growth predicted by the Federal Reserve may take longer to happen than expected.
  3. Revised data shows that wage growth has not slowed down and is persisting at about 5% per year.

Online Safety Act: What went wrong

The Rectangle • 226 implied HN points • 01 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Consumption
  1. The Online Safety Act aimed to protect kids from harmful content online, but it's very hard to enforce. Laws are only effective if there are systems in place to ensure compliance.
  2. Age verification requirements put a lot of personal data at risk without clear privacy protections. People might not trust websites to handle this sensitive information safely.
  3. Regulators need to see online issues as cultural problems, not just technical ones. Education and changing public attitudes are key to keeping kids safe online.

Where the crops go

Topsoil • 471 implied HN points • 31 May 23
💼 Business Consumption
  1. Farmers need to consider demand when deciding what crops to grow.
  2. Proximity to markets can influence a farm's choice of crops to grow.
  3. Various stakeholders, including farmers, cooperatives, commodity groups, and the government, work together to grow demand for agricultural products.

15 things I consumed this week

Maybe Baby • 685 implied HN points • 29 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Consumption
  1. The modern work culture is often seen as flawed and inhumane. Many people feel this way intuitively, even if they don't want to admit it.
  2. There's a growing argument for a 32-hour work week. This could lead to better work-life balance and happier employees.
  3. Understanding the problems with work can help us push for changes in how we approach our jobs and daily lives. It's important to challenge the norms that make us unhappy.

Trade Surplus Provided All of Japan’s GDP Growth in 2nd Quarter

Japan Economy Watch • 399 implied HN points • 17 Aug 23
💰 Finance Consumption
  1. Japan's GDP growth in the 2nd quarter was entirely due to the trade surplus, not internal economic factors like consumption or business investment.
  2. Consumption in Japan shrank, and private demand decreased, highlighting the reliance on trade for economic growth.
  3. Real employee compensation in Japan is stagnant and even lower than pre-Covid levels, raising concerns about overall economic health and consumer spending.

A quarter-year update

Thought-gifts from Jasmine 🌱☁️ • 353 implied HN points • 28 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Consumption
  1. Jasmine started a new company called Trellis and is very excited about its potential
  2. Jasmine has been traveling to different places and plans to settle down soon after signing a lease
  3. Jasmine is actively looking for a life partner and is interested in learning new skills like massage, silversmithing, and writing

From Fetish To Fetter: China's Model Of Investment-Led Growth

Japan Economy Watch • 299 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics Consumption
  1. China's investment-led growth model is facing challenges, with excessive investment and unproductive spending impacting the economy.
  2. China needs to transition from more investment to smarter investment to sustain economic growth and improve living standards.
  3. The country's focus on high investment levels has led to weakening consumer demand, limited household income, and a growing debt burden.

Wage Hikes in April Fail Their First Test

Japan Economy Watch • 299 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
💰 Finance Consumption
  1. Wage hikes in April in Japan fell short of expectations, rising only by 1% instead of the predicted 2%, indicating a potential setback for interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan.
  2. Real wages in Japan have been dropping for years, not just a temporary post-Covid issue, leading to reduced consumer spending and overall economic impact.
  3. The slow wage growth in Japan has implications on inflation rates, with the Bank of Japan waiting for a 3% nominal wage hike to consider monetary policy changes.

Economics Links

In My Tribe • 394 implied HN points • 24 Dec 24
💰 Finance Consumption
  1. Cato's wish list includes ideas for government reform, like raising Social Security retirement ages. Some of these suggestions might not be politically popular, but they show a push for change from a libertarian angle.
  2. There's a big difference in how academics and policymakers view the impact of interest rates on consumption. Academics think higher rates could boost future consumption, while policymakers see them as a negative for the economy.
  3. Scott Sumner highlights the issues with measuring inflation. He argues that inflation numbers are often confusing and imprecise, which also affects how we understand productivity changes.

China's Consumption Is Not Nearly as Low as It Appears: CF40 Policy Brief

Pekingnology • 147 implied HN points • 03 Jul 25
💰 Finance Consumption
  1. China's actual consumption levels are much higher than what many believe. When we look at how much is consumed, the gap between China and developed countries isn't as big as the spending numbers suggest.
  2. In many areas, like food and household items, China has either matched or exceeded consumption levels of developed nations. This shows that Chinese citizens are enjoying a similar standard of living in terms of basic needs.
  3. Even though there's room for improvement in quality and type of consumption, more attention should be given to boosting domestic demand. This can enhance living standards and create a balanced trade environment.

15 things I consumed this week

Maybe Baby • 698 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🍲 Food & Drink Consumption
  1. The post discusses 15 different things the author consumed throughout the week.
  2. The author mentions a tribute to a lost friend, Flaco, and reflects on a personal connection to them.
  3. The post is only available to paid subscribers, indicating exclusive content on the author's profile.

Older people consume differently

Klement on Investing • 4 implied HN points • 03 Feb 26
💼 Business Consumption
  1. People buy different things as they age: healthcare and housing spending tends to rise while education, leisure, clothing and transport fall.
  2. The pattern depends on national demographics. Similar population declines can lead to very different sector effects — Japan shows broad declines, China has healthcare holding up while leisure and transport fall sharply, and Singapore mixes increases and declines because it is ageing but still growing.
  3. This shifts the revenue outlook for companies: leisure and clothing retailers face structural declines while healthcare providers and food retailers look more resilient.

Is brand design moral? Can it be sustainable?

Green Graphic Design • 137 implied HN points • 29 Aug 23
🪑 Design Consumption
  1. Sustainable design may involve difficult choices and struggles with the concept of encouraging consumption.
  2. Design and branding can involve manipulation tactics to sell products, even if with good intentions.
  3. Creating truly sustainable products is complex and challenging due to cost, labor, and greenwashing.

Barbie and corporate self-deprecation

Teniade Topics • 137 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Consumption
  1. Lampshading in movies is a tactic to acknowledge implausibilities and gain audience trust.
  2. Self-deprecation in corporate branding can attract consumers looking for subversion.
  3. Corporations using humor can give consumers moral permission to support their products.

The Anheuser-Busch CEO just made the Bud Light / Trans issue much harder to fix

The Lunduke Journal of Conservative Nerdiness • 117 implied HN points • 14 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Consumption
  1. Partnering with a spokesperson who does not align with the established brand can lead to significant sales and marketing issues.
  2. In crisis marketing situations, firing key personnel, announcing changes, and returning to original brand messaging can help regain customer trust.
  3. The handling of a marketing crisis can impact not just one brand but also the reputation of all associated brands under the same company.