New technologies are impacting a wide range of Americans’ commercial behaviors, from the way they evaluate products and services to the way they pay for the things they buy.
24% of Americans report earning money from the digital ‘platform economy’ in the past year. The extra income they make is a luxury for some, but a necessity for others.
How scholars, companies and workers are using Mechanical Turk, a ‘gig economy’ platform, for tasks computers can’t handle
The sharing economy and on-demand services are weaving their way into the lives of many Americans, raiding difficult issues around jobs, regulation and the potential emergence of a new digital divide.
Fifty-one percent of U.S. adults, or 61% of internet users, bank online. Thirty-two percent of U.S. adults, or 35% of cell phone owners, bank using their mobile phones.
American teens have long been the country's most-wired age group. But contrary to the stereotype of hyper-connected teens, they say some things are better done in person.
Nearly six in ten cell owners used their phone inside a physical store for assistance or guidance on a purchasing decision this holiday season.
Democrats are more likely to contribute online or from their cell phone, while Republicans are more likely to contribute in person, by phone call, or via regular mail.
Tech experts believe that by 2020 many consumers will have embraced smart-device swiping for purchases, but some suspect financial companies will slow down the trend.
Just over half of adult cell owners used their phone while they were in stores during the 2011 holiday shopping season to call friends for advice on a purchase or to check product reviews and prices being offered elsewhere.
