US pet industry spendingUS secondhand/thrift store market
Between 2016 and 2023, the US thrift store market and pet industry spending both grew, correlating at 0.9619 across eight data points. The millennial consumer profile is complete: buy your clothes secondhand, but buy your dog's food premium. The hierarchy of spending is clear—sustainability for the human, indulgence for the animal. The thrift store outfit and the grain-free kibble occupy the same household budget, allocated by the same person with the same values, expressed in opposite directions for different family members.
Thrift store market grew from $28 billion to over $50 billion. Pet spending grew from $67 billion to over $136 billion. Both are values-driven consumer spending trends from the same demographic during the same 8-year window.
Two consumer categories driven by the same demographic's values will correlate across a shared window. The thrift store and the pet store describe the same consumer's budget, not a causal relationship.
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Want to learn more about why correlations like “US pet industry spending” vs “US secondhand/thrift store market” don't prove causation? Read our guide to statistical thinking.
