Tuesday's Assorted Links
Inflation notice, America's favorite Christmas movie, milk and cookie inflation, consumer spending, and poinsettias
Hi y’all! Here are five holiday-inspired stories from this week that contain some neat applications of economic principles or are related to teaching:
The vast majority of U.S. adults say they’ve noticed higher than usual prices for groceries, electricity, and holiday gifts in recent months [Associated Press]
What are America’s favorite Christmas movies? [Sherwood News]
Are Santa’s milk and cookies on the rise in 2025? [Finance Buzz]
Consumers’ holiday spending estimate has shrunk by over $200 as economic confidence edges down [Gallup]
How the poinsettia took over Christmas [The Hustle]
Watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation sparked a simple question that led me down a rabbit hole: how common are holiday bonuses, really? Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we learn that most workers today don’t receive holiday bonuses at all, and that bonus access varies sharply by industry and occupation. This week’s article also touches on why treating them as guaranteed income can be risky from a personal finance perspective.
Do People Still Get Holiday Bonuses?
You’re reading Monday Morning Economist, a free weekly newsletter that explores the economics behind pop culture and current events. Each issue reaches thousands of readers who want to understand the world a little differently. If you enjoy this post, you can support the newsletter by sharing it or by becoming a paid subscriber to help it grow:
Are you an educator looking for ways to introduce this week’s newsletter into your classroom? Sign up for the Classroom Edition of Monday Morning Economist to get assessments and lesson plans delivered straight to your inbox every week.