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Gen Z Always Feels Like We’re In A Recession

Headlines say recession fears are rising again, but YPulse data shows that feeling never leaves Gen Z

Written and Edited by the YPulse Editorial Team
KEY TAKEAWAYS
  • Gen Z has felt like they’re living through a recession—or one is about to happen—for years
  • Back in 2022, many pointed to inflation, pandemic fallout, and economic slowdowns as key reasons
  • In 2025, their worries are from all that plus rising prices from tariffs
Thanks to tariff confusion and economic changes in the government, headlines about a recession are everywhere. And young people are talking about it, too. YPulse has been seeing “recession indicators” going viral, with Gen Z dubbing everyday observations and behaviors as warning signs of economic doom. While some of these indicators—like empty nightclubs and even skinny jeans—might seem exaggerated, they stem from real anxieties Gen Z is experiencing. But this is a gen who’s known little else besides economic doom, and warnings about a recession are, at this point, a regular occurrence for them.  After all, this gen grew up...

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