The Fetch Finds Report reveals a year of hustle, comfort, and delightfully chaotic shopping carts

Americans in 2025 were a study in contradictions. We hit the gym but also hit the couch. We decluttered our homes while filling our carts. We powered through demanding days with energy gels and powered down with weighted blankets and candles.

That’s the picture painted by Fetch’s first-ever full-year Fetch Finds Report, which analyzed more than $179 billion in consumer transactions. With 12 million receipts submitted daily, the data tells a story that’s equal parts discipline and indulgence—a snapshot of a nation trying to balance the hustle with some much-needed comfort.

6 Wild Truths About America’s 2025 Spending Habits: Fetch Reveals Surprising Consumer Trends

The Six Spending Surprises of 2025

1. The Meatless Revolution Has Expired

Remember when plant-based everything was the future? In 2025, Americans said “thanks, but no thanks” and brought meat back to the table. Fresh beef sales jumped 13%, pork climbed 12%, while refrigerated plant-based alternatives dropped 11%. Despite rising grocery costs, consumers chose the real deal over the meatless alternatives.

2. America’s Eating Out—and Sushi’s on a Roll

Even with tighter budgets, dining out surged. And the big winner? Sushi, with a massive 45.6% increase in trip growth. Mexican restaurants saw a respectable 13.9% bump, and pizza grew 6.7%. But sushi absolutely dominated the dining-out conversation this year.

3. Endurance Nutrition Takes a Victory Lap

Energy chews and gels jumped 27.4% in 2025. Whether Americans were actually running marathons or just trying to survive Monday morning meetings, endurance nutrition became a go-to for powering through demanding days.

4. The Great American Declutter Hit Overdrive

Self-care became shelf-care. Household storage bags surged 55.8%, charging valets climbed 37%, and cleaning gloves rose 13.4%. Getting organized wasn’t just about tidiness—it became an act of wellness. A clean space, a clear mind.

5. Protein Moved into the Pantry

Protein isn’t just for gym bros anymore. Everyday staples got a protein makeover:

• Protein-labeled breakfast cereals: +69.8%
• Protein granola: +45.9%
• Protein dry pasta: +35.4%

Consumers wanted their regular foods to work harder, turning breakfast and dinner into opportunities to fuel up.

6. America Powered Down and Got Comfortable

Comfort became the ultimate status symbol. Loungewear sales soared 218%, weighted blankets climbed 45%, and candles rose 20%. After all that hustle, Americans made winding down a priority—and they weren’t shy about investing in it.

What This Tells Us

The Fetch Finds Report captures something real about 2025: Americans were navigating a shifting economy with a mix of practicality and self-care. We pushed hard during the day and gave ourselves permission to relax at night. We organized our homes, fueled our bodies with protein, and treated ourselves to sushi dinners and cozy nights in.

“Fetch sees what others can’t: how people actually spend based on billions of purchases,” said Jacob Grocholski, Vice President of Analytics at Fetch. “This year, we saw a chaotic mix of discipline and indulgence that defined how people navigated 2025.”

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About the Data

The findings come from Fetch, America’s Rewards App, which captures billions of spending transactions annually using AI and machine learning. With more than 6 million five-star reviews and users submitting 12 million receipts daily, Fetch has unmatched visibility into what consumers actually buy—at the item level, across every channel and retailer.

Want the full breakdown? Read the complete Fetch Finds Report for all the details on America’s 2025 spending habits.

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CES 2026 (Jan. 6–9 in Las Vegas) didn’t feel like a “future tech” show as much as a “right now” show. The big shift: AI wasn’t treated like a standalone product category anymore. It was the invisible layer powering everything from streaming discovery to robots that can actually do work.

For STM Daily News readers who live in the overlap of Entertainment and Tech, here are the exhibitors and trends that stood out most—plus why they matter beyond the show floor.

1) Sony Honda Mobility (AFEELA): The car as a rolling entertainment platform

Sony Honda Mobility’s AFEELA presence reinforced a direction CES keeps leaning into: the next generation of vehicles is competing as much on software and in-cabin experience as it is on horsepower.

What made it stand out:

• AFEELA represents the “car as a connected device” idea taken seriously—where the cabin becomes a screen-first, service-driven environment.
• It’s a clean example of how mobility and entertainment are merging: navigation, safety, personalization, and media all living in one interface.

2) Netflix + Amazon Prime Video + Roku + Xumo: Streaming is evolving into ecosystems

CES 2026’s Content & Entertainment story wasn’t about “who has the most subscribers.” It was about streaming as an ecosystem: bundling, ad-supported growth, and smarter discovery.

What made it stand out:

• CES highlighted how streaming platforms are pushing beyond simple libraries into bundles, premium originals, and integrated experiences.
• FAST (free ad-supported streaming TV) continues to gain traction, and device/platform players are positioning themselves as the front door.

3) Dolby: The quiet power behind the best-looking, best-sounding experiences

Dolby isn’t always the flashiest booth, but it consistently shows up as the tech that makes everything else feel “premium.”

What made it stand out:

• In a year where screens, XR, and immersive venues are everywhere, audio and imaging standards are the difference between “cool demo” and “wow.”
• Dolby’s relevance keeps growing as entertainment moves across phones, living rooms, cars, and wearables.

4) Meta + XREAL: Smart glasses keep inching toward mainstream

Wearables at CES 2026 weren’t just about steps and sleep. The momentum was in smart glasses and AR—especially as generative AI voice interfaces make hands-free use feel more natural.

What made it stand out:

• CES noted smart/AR glasses evolving with features like real-time translation, recording, and AI voice interfaces.
• For entertainment fans, this is where “watching” and “doing” start to blend—live overlays, creator tools, and new ways to capture experiences.

5) Samsung + LG + TCL: Screens are still the show’s main stage

Even in an AI-everywhere year, CES still belongs to display tech. Big brands kept proving that TVs aren’t just TVs—they’re hubs for gaming, streaming, smart home control, and ambient experiences.

What made it stand out:

• Display leaders continue to set the tone for how entertainment is consumed at home.
• The conversation is shifting from specs to experience: personalization, AI-powered recommendations, and multi-device continuity.

6) NVIDIA + AMD + Lenovo: The “AI PC” era is no longer theoretical

CES 2026 made it clear that the next wave of consumer computing is built around on-device AI. That matters for creators, editors, and anyone who lives in content.

What made it stand out:

• CES highlighted AI’s move from “digital transformation” to “intelligent transformation,” including edge/enterprise and physical AI in robotics.
• AMD’s CES keynote emphasized AI across devices from PCs to data centers, underscoring how quickly this is becoming standard.

7) Unitree + Richtech Robotics + Hyundai: Robots were the surprise crowd-pleaser

If CES 2026 had a “you had to see it” category, it was robotics. Not just novelty bots—machines built for real environments.

What made it stand out:

• CES framed robotics as “physical AI,” where generative AI and simulation training help robots learn faster than traditional programming.
• Humanoid robots, in particular, are moving from single-task demos toward more collaborative assistant roles.

The big takeaway for STM Daily News readers

CES 2026 wasn’t about one killer gadget. It was about convergence:

• Entertainment is becoming more interactive, more personalized, and more portable.
• Cars are becoming screens.
• Wearables are becoming interfaces.
• Robots are becoming the next “device category” people actually want to watch.

And underneath it all: AI is becoming less of a headline and more of the operating system for modern life.

Here’s a list of what stood out to us at CES 2026:

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• Sony Honda Mobility (AFEELA): The car as a rolling entertainment platform
• Netflix + Amazon Prime Video + Roku + Xumo: Streaming is evolving into ecosystems
• Dolby: The quiet power behind the best-looking, best-sounding experiences
• Meta + XREAL: Smart glasses keep inching toward mainstream
• Samsung + LG + TCL: Screens are still the show’s main stage
• NVIDIA + AMD + Lenovo: The “AI PC” era is no longer theoretical
• Unitree + Richtech Robotics + Hyundai: Robots were the surprise crowd-pleaser

Sources

• CES press release recap and exhibitor/topic highlights (Jan. 9, 2026): https://www.ces.tech/press-releases/ces-2026-the-future-is-here

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T.K. Carter in Punky Brewster (1984) Image: IMDB

Veteran actor T.K. Carter, best known for his roles in The Thing and the popular 1980s television series Punky Brewster, has died at the age of 69.

Authorities confirmed Carter was found unresponsive at his home in Duarte, California. No foul play is suspected, and an official cause of death has not yet been released.

A Career Spanning Decades

Born Thomas Kent Carter, T.K. Carter built a career in film and television that spanned more than four decades. He became a cult favorite portraying Nauls in John Carpenter’s 1982 horror classic The Thing, a film that continues to influence the genre today.

Television audiences widely remember Carter for his role as Mike Fulton on Punky Brewster, where his comedic timing and grounded performances helped make the show a lasting favorite of the era.

Film and Television Legacy

In addition to his best-known roles, Carter appeared in films such as Runaway Train, Ski Patrol, and Space Jam. His television work included guest appearances on a wide range of series throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and beyond.

Known within the industry as a reliable and versatile performer, Carter often brought authenticity and warmth to supporting roles that left a lasting impression, even in brief appearances.

Remembering T.K. Carter

As news of his passing spreads, fans and colleagues alike are reflecting on T.K. Carter’s contributions to film and television. While he may not have always been the leading name on the marquee, his work helped shape stories that continue to be watched and appreciated by new generations.

T.K. Carter is remembered for his enduring performances, professional dedication, and the quiet but meaningful legacy he leaves behind.

Related Coverage

• Los Angeles Times: Actor T.K. Carter Dies at 69
• People Magazine: T.K. Carter, ‘The Thing’ and ‘Punky Brewster’ Actor, Dead at 69
• Entertainment Weekly: T.K. Carter, ‘Punky Brewster’ and ‘The Thing’ Actor, Dies
• ABC News: Veteran Actor T.K. Carter Dies at 69

Stay with STM Daily News for updates to this developing story and more independent coverage of entertainment, history, and culture. Visit www.stmdailynews.com for the latest.