Deloitte · 6 Oct, 07:00 · Finance briefing

State of the US Consumer: September–October 2026

Deloitte has published its State of the US Consumer report covering September to October 2026.

28%average pay gap between certified and uncertified finance staff
2.4xfaster promotion with a professional credential
83%of finance leaders rank upskilling a top-3 priority
20days to your first credential
The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Deloitte has published its State of the US Consumer report covering September to October 2026. This analysis provides a comprehensive overview of current consumer behaviours, spending habits, and sentiment across key market segments. The report highlights shifting priorities and emerging trends that define the contemporary economic landscape for American households. It serves as a critical benchmark for understanding how external factors influence purchasing decisions and brand loyalty during this specific period. Professionals can utilise these findings to align their strategic initiatives with real-world market dynamics, ensuring their organisations remain responsive to evolving customer expectations and financial realities.

Employer demand for Strategic Marketing skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)
20191x20201.4x20212x20222.9x20234.2x20246x20258.6x202611.5x
Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

You must adapt your strategy to reflect these shifting consumer priorities immediately. Professionals in marketing and product development should prioritise skills in data interpretation and behavioural analysis. You need to understand not just what consumers buy, but why their motivations are changing. Focus on developing expertise in customer insights and agile strategy formulation. A smart professional would review this report to identify gaps in their organisation’s current approach. Consider upskilling in analytics to translate these trends into actionable business intelligence. Those in leadership roles must foster a culture of responsiveness. Do not ignore these signals; instead, use them to refine your value proposition and stay ahead of competitors who remain static.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Strategic Marketing, Data Science, Business And Management and CRM Data Analytics — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below
Strategic Marketing+22%Data Science+27%Business And Management+34%CRM Data Analytics+27%
Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.

Launch pricing shown against standard certificate value. The fee you see today is the fee you lock in.

This briefing is based on reporting by Deloitte on 6 Oct, 07:00. Read the original coverage →

Read the news. Then outrun it.

Every OnlineUni programme is online, self-paced and from £79 — so a headline today can be your credential this month.

The gap between qualified and preferred is one more skill.

Close it now, while you're already in the rhythm of studying.

Chat with Admissions

OnlineUni Admissions

Tell us where you want your career to go, and we'll find you the right programme.

Chat with AdmissionsCourse guidance, fees, and enrolment help from our team.
Available 24/7 Our admissions consultants are always online to help you choose.
OnlineUni · a TilGlobal brand

Tell us about yourself to get started

OnlineUni · a TilGlobal brand