Thomas J. Weinandy
@tomweinandy.bsky.social
PhD Research Economist at Upside | Retail Speaker (Gas, Restaurant, Grocery) | Former Data Scientist (Python, Azure, Power BI)
National #gas prices reached new lows in November, levels not seen since before the invasion of Ukraine. Some headlines highlighted how sign prices fell below $3, but our data at Upside shows that is not out of the ordinary.
www.upside.com/business/ret...
www.upside.com/business/ret...
December 16, 2025 at 4:04 PM
National #gas prices reached new lows in November, levels not seen since before the invasion of Ukraine. Some headlines highlighted how sign prices fell below $3, but our data at Upside shows that is not out of the ordinary.
www.upside.com/business/ret...
www.upside.com/business/ret...
Higher-income consumers are propping up the #economy right now.
Survey of 3k consumers: households $75k+ are spending more; under $75k are cutting back.
Analysis of 10B transactions: per-store spend up <1% — below inflation.
Full report: www.upside.com/reports/the-... #grocery #restaurant #fuel
Survey of 3k consumers: households $75k+ are spending more; under $75k are cutting back.
Analysis of 10B transactions: per-store spend up <1% — below inflation.
Full report: www.upside.com/reports/the-... #grocery #restaurant #fuel
December 10, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Higher-income consumers are propping up the #economy right now.
Survey of 3k consumers: households $75k+ are spending more; under $75k are cutting back.
Analysis of 10B transactions: per-store spend up <1% — below inflation.
Full report: www.upside.com/reports/the-... #grocery #restaurant #fuel
Survey of 3k consumers: households $75k+ are spending more; under $75k are cutting back.
Analysis of 10B transactions: per-store spend up <1% — below inflation.
Full report: www.upside.com/reports/the-... #grocery #restaurant #fuel
Fact 1: Retailers also hate inflation.
Fact 2: There are few things as satisfying as a good ribbon chart.
www.upside.com/business/ret... #EconSky
Fact 2: There are few things as satisfying as a good ribbon chart.
www.upside.com/business/ret... #EconSky
November 20, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Fact 1: Retailers also hate inflation.
Fact 2: There are few things as satisfying as a good ribbon chart.
www.upside.com/business/ret... #EconSky
Fact 2: There are few things as satisfying as a good ribbon chart.
www.upside.com/business/ret... #EconSky
Loyalty cards may still be on the rise, but #gas stations are seeing fewer swipes from their branded credit and debit cards — 40% declines in the last four years alone. This is just the latest evidence that customer #loyalty is changing for retailers of all types.
Full story: lnkd.in/g88H_ixE
Full story: lnkd.in/g88H_ixE
November 13, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Loyalty cards may still be on the rise, but #gas stations are seeing fewer swipes from their branded credit and debit cards — 40% declines in the last four years alone. This is just the latest evidence that customer #loyalty is changing for retailers of all types.
Full story: lnkd.in/g88H_ixE
Full story: lnkd.in/g88H_ixE
It isn't the youngest consumers who are the most digital — it's the busiest ones. Millennials lead online #grocery because they have more money, larger families, and less time.
More digital shopping habits here: www.upside.com/business/ret...
More digital shopping habits here: www.upside.com/business/ret...
October 22, 2025 at 7:22 PM
It isn't the youngest consumers who are the most digital — it's the busiest ones. Millennials lead online #grocery because they have more money, larger families, and less time.
More digital shopping habits here: www.upside.com/business/ret...
More digital shopping habits here: www.upside.com/business/ret...
August 25, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Events like the 12-day war in the Middle East can shock oil prices but #gas stations actually absorb much of the short-term volatility, smoothing out price changes for consumers.
Read the story in my June 2025 update to Fuel Trends by Upside: www.upside.com/blog/fuel-tr...
Read the story in my June 2025 update to Fuel Trends by Upside: www.upside.com/blog/fuel-tr...
July 10, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Events like the 12-day war in the Middle East can shock oil prices but #gas stations actually absorb much of the short-term volatility, smoothing out price changes for consumers.
Read the story in my June 2025 update to Fuel Trends by Upside: www.upside.com/blog/fuel-tr...
Read the story in my June 2025 update to Fuel Trends by Upside: www.upside.com/blog/fuel-tr...
I am grateful for the chance to speak at #GroceryTech2025 about the value to customer retention to retailers. Thanks to Progressive Grocer to put on the engaging event!
June 13, 2025 at 2:02 PM
I am grateful for the chance to speak at #GroceryTech2025 about the value to customer retention to retailers. Thanks to Progressive Grocer to put on the engaging event!
Shout out to @axios.com for adding context to my research on how DC customers are sacrificing #restaurant quality for affordability!
Full story here: www.axios.com/local/washin...
Full story here: www.axios.com/local/washin...
June 2, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Shout out to @axios.com for adding context to my research on how DC customers are sacrificing #restaurant quality for affordability!
Full story here: www.axios.com/local/washin...
Full story here: www.axios.com/local/washin...
A famous 2001 study shows that increasing customer retention rates by 5% increases profits by 25% to 95%.
I'm exited update that research at GroceryTech 2025 on the relationship between retention and profitability in the era of digital convenience, loyalty apps, and personalized offers.
#grocery
I'm exited update that research at GroceryTech 2025 on the relationship between retention and profitability in the era of digital convenience, loyalty apps, and personalized offers.
#grocery
May 28, 2025 at 2:22 AM
A famous 2001 study shows that increasing customer retention rates by 5% increases profits by 25% to 95%.
I'm exited update that research at GroceryTech 2025 on the relationship between retention and profitability in the era of digital convenience, loyalty apps, and personalized offers.
#grocery
I'm exited update that research at GroceryTech 2025 on the relationship between retention and profitability in the era of digital convenience, loyalty apps, and personalized offers.
#grocery
I’m grateful for NACS inviting me to speak about the outlook for the US economy at their 2025 State of the Industry Summit. I’m continuously impressed by the nimbleness of the convenience industry.
April 11, 2025 at 3:57 AM
I’m grateful for NACS inviting me to speak about the outlook for the US economy at their 2025 State of the Industry Summit. I’m continuously impressed by the nimbleness of the convenience industry.
I caught the latest Slate Money podcast, and I am happy to tell you @emilypeck.bsky.social that egg sales do spike right before Easter 🐰
Source: I pulled this from 100+ grocery stores, as reported here www.linkedin.com/pulse/march-...
Source: I pulled this from 100+ grocery stores, as reported here www.linkedin.com/pulse/march-...
April 1, 2025 at 5:04 PM
I caught the latest Slate Money podcast, and I am happy to tell you @emilypeck.bsky.social that egg sales do spike right before Easter 🐰
Source: I pulled this from 100+ grocery stores, as reported here www.linkedin.com/pulse/march-...
Source: I pulled this from 100+ grocery stores, as reported here www.linkedin.com/pulse/march-...
Regular and diesel fuel are out! Midgrade and premium are in! Well, sort of...
I'm excited to be featured in the latest @cspdailynews.bsky.social magazine cover story "Inside the Mind of Your Consumer" about the rising popularity (and profitability) of premium and midgrade #fuel.
I'm excited to be featured in the latest @cspdailynews.bsky.social magazine cover story "Inside the Mind of Your Consumer" about the rising popularity (and profitability) of premium and midgrade #fuel.
March 21, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Regular and diesel fuel are out! Midgrade and premium are in! Well, sort of...
I'm excited to be featured in the latest @cspdailynews.bsky.social magazine cover story "Inside the Mind of Your Consumer" about the rising popularity (and profitability) of premium and midgrade #fuel.
I'm excited to be featured in the latest @cspdailynews.bsky.social magazine cover story "Inside the Mind of Your Consumer" about the rising popularity (and profitability) of premium and midgrade #fuel.
Consumers are willing to pay a holiday premium for celebration essentials, but grocers still need to convince shoppers to choose *their* store.
As I say in a new #Grocery Dive article: no store wants to be the one to run out of #eggs on Easter.
progressivegrocer.com/grocers-guid...
As I say in a new #Grocery Dive article: no store wants to be the one to run out of #eggs on Easter.
progressivegrocer.com/grocers-guid...
March 15, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Consumers are willing to pay a holiday premium for celebration essentials, but grocers still need to convince shoppers to choose *their* store.
As I say in a new #Grocery Dive article: no store wants to be the one to run out of #eggs on Easter.
progressivegrocer.com/grocers-guid...
As I say in a new #Grocery Dive article: no store wants to be the one to run out of #eggs on Easter.
progressivegrocer.com/grocers-guid...
I regret to inform everyone that the slushies machince is down
March 7, 2025 at 4:27 PM
I regret to inform everyone that the slushies machince is down
I'm excited to announce that I will be speaking at the NACS 2025 State of the Industry Summit about consumer behavior and macroeconomic trends impacting #fuel and #convenience retailers.
Details and registration info here: www.convenience.org/events/SOI#/
Details and registration info here: www.convenience.org/events/SOI#/
February 5, 2025 at 1:43 PM
I'm excited to announce that I will be speaking at the NACS 2025 State of the Industry Summit about consumer behavior and macroeconomic trends impacting #fuel and #convenience retailers.
Details and registration info here: www.convenience.org/events/SOI#/
Details and registration info here: www.convenience.org/events/SOI#/
To put the #tariffs on Chinese goods in context, these are only going to raise prices on a subset of imports. Louise Loo of @OxfordEconomics predicts the tariffs are an effective rate of 2ppt.
Still not good for the American consumer though. Chart from @piie.com (with my red line). #EconSky
Still not good for the American consumer though. Chart from @piie.com (with my red line). #EconSky
February 4, 2025 at 12:45 PM
#Inflation still remains stubbornly above it's 2% target, reinforcing the Fed's signal to slow down interest rate cuts. It looks like #grocery prices are creeping back up which is worth keeping an eye on. Otherwise today's report was a nothing burger. 🍔 #EconSky
January 15, 2025 at 2:07 PM
#Inflation still remains stubbornly above it's 2% target, reinforcing the Fed's signal to slow down interest rate cuts. It looks like #grocery prices are creeping back up which is worth keeping an eye on. Otherwise today's report was a nothing burger. 🍔 #EconSky
Do Ozempic users eat 164,500 fewer calories?! Retailers should take note & brace themselves.
A new draft paper from @hristakeva.bsky.social @jurawho.bsky.social & @leofeler.com shows the avg GPL-1 user reported 47lbs of weight lost. I'll share highlights + implications for retail in this 🧵/6
A new draft paper from @hristakeva.bsky.social @jurawho.bsky.social & @leofeler.com shows the avg GPL-1 user reported 47lbs of weight lost. I'll share highlights + implications for retail in this 🧵/6
January 14, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Do Ozempic users eat 164,500 fewer calories?! Retailers should take note & brace themselves.
A new draft paper from @hristakeva.bsky.social @jurawho.bsky.social & @leofeler.com shows the avg GPL-1 user reported 47lbs of weight lost. I'll share highlights + implications for retail in this 🧵/6
A new draft paper from @hristakeva.bsky.social @jurawho.bsky.social & @leofeler.com shows the avg GPL-1 user reported 47lbs of weight lost. I'll share highlights + implications for retail in this 🧵/6
E-commerce *is* mobile commerce. This article recapping 2024 holiday spending trends tried to bury their most interesting stat at the end.
And they would have gotten away with it too if it wasn’t for those pesky kids!
www.cnbc.com/2025/01/07/o...
And they would have gotten away with it too if it wasn’t for those pesky kids!
www.cnbc.com/2025/01/07/o...
January 10, 2025 at 2:54 PM
E-commerce *is* mobile commerce. This article recapping 2024 holiday spending trends tried to bury their most interesting stat at the end.
And they would have gotten away with it too if it wasn’t for those pesky kids!
www.cnbc.com/2025/01/07/o...
And they would have gotten away with it too if it wasn’t for those pesky kids!
www.cnbc.com/2025/01/07/o...