FAA-registered drones in the USUS secondhand/thrift store market
Between 2016 and 2023, FAA-registered drones and the US thrift store market both grew, correlating at 0.9624 across eight data points. The theory that drones are being used to scout thrift stores from the air has not been confirmed, but the demographic overlap is real: both are adopted by tech-savvy, budget-conscious consumers who enjoy finding value in unexpected places. The drone hobbyist and the thrift shopper share a worldview: the best things in life are either cheap or airborne.
FAA-registered drones grew from roughly 670,000 to over 870,000. The secondhand market grew from $28 billion to over $50 billion. Both are consumer trends from the same window driven by different aspects of the same consumer culture.
Eight data points of two consumer trends growing during the same period will produce a strong correlation. The drone and the thrift store share an era of consumer innovation, not a supply chain.
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Want to learn more about why correlations like “FAA-registered drones in the US” vs “US secondhand/thrift store market” don't prove causation? Read our guide to statistical thinking.
