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Our new Cardlytics State of Spend series helps marketers track weekly changes in consumer spend and take action to drive growth. Purchase insights like these are at the heart of everything we do and set the foundation for precisely targeted campaigns in our 100% brand-safe and fraud-free ad platform. Our offers in banks’ digital channels drive measurable sales for marketers and provide valuable savings for customers.

Our latest issue spotlights restaurant trends as customers change their dining and meal prep habits and turn to delivery. Find out which restaurant categories are further along the path to recovery, how the average restaurant check is changing, and actionable tips for long-term success. With each issue, we’re sharing the Cardlytics Recovery Indicator so that you can keep a pulse on consumer confidence and track which states are showing the strongest signs of return.

Inside this issue:

• Overall spend steadily increasing
• Discretionary spend is up in 46 states
• Average restaurant checks are up year-over-year
• Restaurant spend begins to recover
• Actionable tips for long-term growth

Want more actionable insights?

With insight into 50% of US transactions, Cardlytics puts purchase insights into action every day for advertisers in banks’ digital channels. Whether marketers are experiencing ups or downs in consumer spend, we're here to help our clients navigate the curve and drive measurable sales.

Contact us for an analysis and campaign strategy customized for your brand.

Be sure to check back for the next Cardlytics State of Spend report and view last week’s edition here.

Memorial Day weekend historically marks the unofficial start of summer travel. But this year, it also served as a bellwether of whether consumers would be ready to travel again. Our purchase insights show that, in the near term, travel post-COVID may be considerably changed.  

Consumers still want a change of scenery, but they are turning to more regional and local destinations. Airline and cruise spending were still significantly down compared to this time last year— -77.6% and -85.8% respectively, but we’re seeing signs of return in other travel categories. 

As further evidence of the shift toward local and regional travel, customers are rapidly returning to car rentals. Car rental spend increased +30.8 points to –42.7% after hitting a low of -73.4% year over year in early April. This suggests that customers are once again taking summer road trips to driver-friendly destinations. 

At first glance, hotels & lodging recovered the most by Memorial Day weekend, but within the aggregate figures is an important shift. Spend increased +38.1 pts from a low the week of 4/2 (this category is now pacing at –47.8% from a low of -85.8% YOY). However, most of these gains were driven by alternative lodging and homestay brands – not traditional hotels.  

Alternative lodging leads the path forward

Alternative lodging spend is now showing a positive increase of +16% year-over-year, surpassing even last year’s Memorial Weekend spend. In comparison, traditional hotel brands remained down -61.6% year over year. Because alternative lodging is typically paid for in advance, it can serve as an early indicator of upcoming travel spend. However, the dramatic recovery of this category has significantly outpaced the slower turnaround of other industry spend for many weeks and seems to indicate an accelerated adoption of vacation rental disruptors.

Actionable tip: minimize the impact of disruptors

COVID-19 has changed consumer behavior. Across the board, disruptors are rapidly gaining a foothold over their traditional counterparts. We’ve seen the shift in spend toward e-Commerce retailers, online grocery, third-party restaurant delivery, and now, alternative lodging.  

Prior to COVID-19, hotel spend was growing so quickly that it allowed for the expansive growth of alternative lodging without significantly impacting the growth prospects for the major hotel brands.  But with alternative lodging and homestay brands devouring summer leisure travel demand again while traditional hotel spend remains in steep decline, this represents a more significant threat. Hotels and other impacted categories need to act quickly to bring their customers back before they’re lost for good. 

Drive growth with our trusted, fraud-free ad platform

Using purchase insights, Cardlytics can identify customers who have started to resume spending in relevant categories and engage them with highly targeted offers in our 100% brand-safe and fraud-free ad platform. These offers reach real customers in their online and mobile banking channels while they’re thinking about how to spend their money. Our campaigns minimize the risk associated with returning to marketing with a pay-for-performance model. We drive proven results and positive cashflow with no upfront costs.

Want more actionable insights?

With insight into 50% of US transactions, Cardlytics puts purchase insights into action every day for advertisers in banks’ digital channels. Whether marketers are experiencing ups or downs in consumer spend, we're here to help our clients navigate the curve and drive measurable sales. Contact us for an analysis and campaign strategy customized for your brand.

These insights were recently featured in our State of Spend report, which follows important shifts in consumer spend and track early signs of recovery. Download our latest State of Spend Report today and be sure to check back for the next issue.

Analysis in this report is based on data derived from the Cardlytics platform between March 5th and June 3rd. While analysis is representative of purchase behavior, it does not include every customer or every financial institution on the Cardlytics platform.

Across all industries, US consumer spend continues to trend up as more states reopen their economies. When looking at weekly spend, Cardlytics purchase insights show that overall spend is pacing at -11.4% year over year. This is a significant improvement compared to a low point of –34.3% YOY in late March.

But does this mean that consumers are easing back into their pre-COVID-19 shopping patterns? As impacted marketers seek to time their return, we need to go a level deeper to understand when spend is returning to normal. To help answer this question, I’m pleased to announce the Cardlytics Recovery Indicator.  

What is the Cardlytics Recovery Indicator?

The Cardlytics Recovery Indicator was designed to help brands keep a pulse on consumer confidence and choose the right time to ramp up their marketing. In order to forecast when consumers may be ready to return to stores, we’ve looked at trends for select discretionary categories—comparing weekly spend at low-ticket, high-frequency businesses such as salons, apparel retailers, casual dining and QSR restaurants, among others.

Purchase insights like these are the foundation for precisely targeted campaigns in our ad platform and can be used to drive sales from customers who are starting to purchase again outside of their homes. We’ll be sharing the Cardlytics Recovery Indicator regularly via our State of Spend report series.

Overall, recovery is trending in the right direction

Marketers who have been waiting for signs of recovery shouldn’t wait much longer. While customers remain cautious about spending on non-essentials and returning to their normal buying patterns, they are gradually gaining confidence each week. After dropping to a low of -75% YOY at the end of March, spend at brands within the Recovery Indicator has continued to climb back up — reaching -40.85% YOY the week of 5/28- 6/3. This momentum is represented by a gain of +34 points.

When looking at total spend with Recovery Indicator brands, we see consumers continuing to spend more each week, albeit at fluctuating rates. The last week of May, they spent 6.3% more than the week before, a slightly lower rate of increase than the 12% growth we saw previously.

Making the Cardlytics Recovery Indicator actionable

As marketers plan their return, the effectiveness and efficiency of their campaigns will depend on their ability to prioritize the individuals who are ready to spend. At Cardlytics, we’re committed to helping marketers predict where and when spend at their stores is likely to return. By overlaying our Recovery Indicator on their unique customer sets, we help gauge customer confidence and choose the right time to ramp up marketing. We also help our clients acquire new customers by prioritizing people who have resumed normal spending and by focusing on regions of the country that are showing strong signs of recovery.

One of our clients—a national restaurant chain—wanted to re-engage customers as they became comfortable making purchases outside the home. Using our purchase insights, Cardlytics was able to identify customers actively purchasing from quick service restaurants. Through targeted offers in customers’ online and mobile banking channels, we helped our client reach the most likely customers and drive sales for their pickup and drive-through locations.

Want more actionable insights?

With insight into 50% of US transactions, Cardlytics puts purchase insights into action every day for advertisers in banks’ digital channels. Whether marketers are experiencing ups or downs in consumer spend, we're here to help our clients navigate the curve and drive measurable sales. Contact us for an analysis and campaign strategy customized for your brand.

These insights were recently featured in our State of Spend report, which follows important shifts in consumer spend and track early signs of recovery. Download our latest State of Spend Report today and be sure to check back for the next issue.

Analysis in this report is based on data derived from the Cardlytics platform between March 5th and June 3rd. While analysis is representative of purchase behavior, it does not include every customer or every financial institution on the Cardlytics platform.

We recently launched the Cardlytics State of Spend series to help marketers navigate changes in consumer spend. Purchase insights like these are the foundation for precisely targeted campaigns in our ad platform. Our offers in banks’ digital channels drive business growth for marketers and provide valuable savings for customers. 

In addition to highlighting weekly changes in spend, our new State of Spend issue spotlights Memorial Day travel trends. Find out which travel categories are seeing the biggest changes as customers find new ways to get out of the house this summer. With each issue, we’re sharing the Cardlytics Recovery Indicator so that you can keep a pulse on consumer confidence and track which states are showing the strongest signs of return.

Inside this issue: 

• Overall spend continues to increase with small weekly gains 
• Signs of Return: the Cardlytics Recovery Indicator 
• Discretionary spend is up in 48 states 
• Customers are now shopping fewer retail brands 
• Memorial Day kicks off summer travel  
• Actionable tips for long-term growth 

Want more actionable insights? 

With insight into 50% of US transactions, Cardlytics puts purchase insights into action every day for advertisers in banks’ digital channels. Whether marketers are experiencing ups or downs in consumer spend, we're here to help our clients navigate the curve and drive measurable sales.  

Contact us for an analysis and campaign strategy customized for your brand.  

Be sure to check back for the next Cardlytics State of Spend report and view last week’s edition here. 

As marketers try to get a sense of how reopening will impact their business, Cardlytics is leveraging our purchase insights to help brands gauge customer confidence and choose the right time to ramp up their marketing. With that in mind, we took a closer look at Georgia—one of the first states to open back up following COVID-19 closures—to see whether reopening caused a boost in consumer spend.

Georgians cautiously resume spending in key categories

Weeks after states began lifting restrictions, customers are still carefully weighing if and how they’re ready to spend outside of their homes. In Georgia, customers can now return to malls, local gyms, salons, and restaurants. Georgia’s overall weekly change in spend is now down only –6.5% YOY compared to the national average of –12.9%.

Interestingly, Georgians did not rush back immediately after the reopening on 4/24. Spend that week was relatively flat and remained in line with the lows of the prior weeks. In subsequent weeks, as consumers gained confidence, we’ve seen spend at brick & mortar locations begin to return. While still far from their normal sales levels, salons, restaurants, apparel, and shoe retailers have seen positive momentum in recent weeks.

Despite the ability of gyms to reopen, Georgians still appear hesitant to return. They have, however, increased their investment in home fitness. In-store spend at sporting and outdoor goods retailers has almost returned to normal levels -- up +72 pts from the last week of March. 

Actionable tips:

While customers are slowly starting to pick up their old spending habits, many are still playing it safe—even in states that have reopened. Cardlytics uses powerful purchase insights to help marketers understand where and when customers are ready to resume spending.

For retailers with physical locations: prioritize customers who are ready to spend

At Cardlytics, we’re committed to helping marketers identify where and when spend at their stores is likely to return. By overlaying our Cardlytics Recovery Indicator on your unique customer sets, we can measure customer confidence and help you choose the right time to ramp up marketing. We also help clients acquire new customers by prioritizing people who have resumed normal spending and by focusing on regions of the country that are showing strong signs of recovery. Our campaigns are highly effective at driving incremental sales to your locations and providing valuable savings for consumers during these critical times.

For retailers with a strong online presence: re-engage newly acquired customers with relevant marketing

As states reopen, consumers have an opportunity to return to their previous shopping patterns. Retailers in categories with an influx of new customers must act quickly to defend gains in market share. Cardlytics uses our purchase insights to help identify early signs of churn and build lasting loyalty. Targeted cash-back offers in our ad platform keep customers new and existing customers engaged and drive repeat purchases.

For all retailers: promote products that support life at home

Home is the center of the ‘new economy’ as customers keep busy tackling projects around the house. They’re even keeping their workout routines strong at home. Make the most of this trend by promoting products that help them keep busy, stay active, and get some fresh air even while they’re sheltering in place.

Want more actionable insights?

With insight into 50% of US transactions, Cardlytics puts purchase insights into action every day for advertisers in banks’ digital channels. Whether marketers are experiencing ups or downs in consumer spend, we're here to help our clients navigate the curve and drive measurable sales. Contact us for an analysis and campaign strategy customized for your brand.

These insights were recently featured in our State of Spend report, which follows important shifts in consumer spend and track early signs of recovery. Download our latest State of Spend report today and be sure to check back for the next issue.

Analysis in this report is based on data derived from the Cardlytics platform between February 27^th and May 20^th. While analysis is representative of purchase behavior, it does not include every customer or every financial institution on the CDLX platform.

We recently launched the Cardlytics State of Spend series to help marketers navigate changes in consumer spend. Understanding where consumers are most likely to buy is a powerful starting point for driving real business growth. We’re using these purchase insights to run precisely targeted campaigns in banks’ digital channels that drive incremental sales for marketers and provide valuable savings for consumers.

In our latest State of Spend issue, we’re reporting weekly changes in spend and tracking early signs of recovery with the Cardlytics Recovery Indicator. In addition to year-over-year analysis, we’re also now including week-over-week trends. As brands choose the right time to ramp up their marketing, these insights can help them gauge consumer confidence and pinpoint regions that are further along the path to recovery.

Inside this issue:

• COVID-19’s impact on overall spend 
• Signs of Return: the Cardlytics Recovery Indicator
• Where is spend recovering?
• Actionable tips for long-term gains

Want more actionable insights?

With insight into 50% of US transactions, Cardlytics puts purchase insights into action every day for advertisers in banks’ digital channels. Whether marketers are experiencing ups or downs in consumer spend, we're here to help our clients navigate the curve and drive measurable sales.

Contact us for an analysis and campaign strategy customized for your brand.

Be sure to check back for the next Cardlytics State of Spend report and view last week’s edition here.

Customers are staying active and sticking to their workout resolutions. Before the pandemic hit, three key categories were driving overall fitness growth: traditional gyms, boutique studios, and on-demand workouts. 

When looking at weekly fitness spend, Cardlytics purchase insights show that the overall gym and fitness category is down 77% year over year. However, there is still a major bright spot in the industry. Since the start of shelter-in-place orders, the on-demand fitness trend has gained momentum and is now the fastest-growing fitness category. In recent weeks, spend with these convenient, app-based workouts is up 125%. To help support their at-home fitness goals, customers have also increased their online spend with athletic footwear retailers (up 21%) and sporting goods (up 55%).  

Many traditional gyms and studios have embraced the online fitness trend by offering live at-home workout programs and ongoing meal prep while they continue to remain physically closed. These creative solutions seem to have paid off, as these categories have shown significantly slower decreases in spend compared to other impacted industries. 

Actionable tips: 

There is a major opportunity for fitness brands to acquire and retain customers while motivation is high. 

• For brands with on-demand and online offerings, this means retaining the influx of newly acquired customers to defend gains in market share and build lasting loyalty. Using purchase insights, Cardlytics can identify which customers are at risk of returning to their old fitness habits and keep them engaged with precisely targeted offers in our ad platform.

• For traditional gyms and studios, purchase insights provide a critical gauge for timing a return to marketing. Cardlytics can help track when your members are starting to spend at physical stores and re-engage them with timely offers that drive measurable memberships. We can also help you acquire new customers by prioritizing people who have resumed normal spending or pinpointing regions of the country that are further along the path to recovery.

• For all retailers, make the most of the at-home fitness trend by promoting products that support at-home workouts and active lifestyles through your online channels.

Whether marketers are experiencing ups or downs in consumer spend, Cardlytics’ ad platform influences customers’ purchase behavior through precisely targeted campaigns that drive measurable sales. Contact us for a custom analysis and campaign strategy customized for your brand.

These insights were recently featured in our State of Spend report, which follows important shifts in consumer spend and track early signs of recovery. Download our latest State of Spend Report today and be sure to check back for the next issue.

Analysis in this report is based on data derived from the Cardlytics platform between March 12th and April 29th. While analysis is representative of purchase behavior, it does not include every customer or every financial institution on the Cardlytics platform.

Atlanta, GA – May 28, 2020 – Cardlytics, Inc., (NASDAQ: CDLX), a purchase intelligence platform that makes marketing more relevant and measurable, today announced it will present at two upcoming conferences: the Bank of America 2020 Global Technology Conference and the William Blair 40^th Annual Growth Stock Conference.

• Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Lynne Laube, will present at the Bank of America Conference on Thursday, June 4, 2020 at 1:45 p.m. Eastern Time and will be webcast live.

• Ms. Laube will present at the William Blair Conference on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at 9:40 a.m. Eastern Time and will be webcast live.

A live audio webcast of each event will be available on the Cardlytics Investor Relations website at http://ir.cardlytics.com/. After the events, an archive of the webcasts will also be available for a limited time on the Cardlytics Investor Relations website.

About Cardlytics

Cardlytics (NASDAQ: CDLX) uses purchase intelligence to make marketing more relevant and measurable. We partner with financial institutions to run their banking rewards programs that promote customer loyalty and deepen banking relationships. In turn, we have a secure view into where and when consumers are spending their money. We use these insights to help marketers identify, reach, and influence likely buyers at scale, as well as measure the true sales impact of marketing campaigns. Headquartered in Atlanta, Cardlytics has offices in London, New York, San Francisco and Visakhapatnam. Learn more at www.cardlytics.com.

With insight into 50% of US transactions, Cardlytics is uniquely positioned to help marketers understand and respond to current trends that impact their industries and customers.

We’re putting these purchase insights into action every day for advertisers in our native ad platform and are pleased to publish a new Cardlytics State of Spend series for all marketers to leverage.

Inside the first issue:

• COVID-19’s impact on overall spend 
• eCommerce is leading the path forward
• Home is the center of the new economy
• Customers choose home fitness
• Actionable tips for long-term gains

Want more actionable insights?

We’re committed to providing certainty in this time of uncertainty. Whether marketers are experiencing ups or downs in consumer spend, Cardlytics is using our unique purchase insights and powerful advertising channel to help all of our clients navigate the curve and drive measurable sales.

Contact us for a custom analysis and campaign strategy customized for your brand.

Be sure to check back for the next Cardlytics State of Spend report to follow important shifts in consumer spend and track early signs of recovery.