RILEY RAINS / ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

ANJALI DALAL-WHELAN / ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Predicting the market is no easy feat. Economists use recession indicators as signals for a decrease in the market: factors such as increased inflation, a dip in stock prices and high rates of unemployment, all allude to negative trends in the economy.

Recently, on popular social media platforms such as X or Instagram, users label aspects of pop culture as “recession indicators.” 

Whether it is   used   in   earnest or  in jest, the twist on the term clearly links current trends in pop culture to politics and the economy. 

Anything can have the economic expression attached to it: Lady Gaga’s resurgence, coupons  on  canned goods or even the     popular   Sonny    Angels.  

Some Toreros avoid salons in light of rising prices. @Giorgio Trovato/Unsplash

In 2008, during the Great Recession, there were  a variety of recession indicators that spread their way through American pop culture. Upbeat tunes  such  as  Rihanna’s  “Don’t Stop  the  Music,” the Black Eyed Peas’ “I  Gotta Feeling” and Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” all contain poppy beats and optimistic lyrics: a trend that helped   Americans   alleviate  the stress of the Great Recession.

USD Spanish Professor Aldara  Fernandez Sierra moved to the U.S. from Spain in 2007,  and  she  commented  on  her  experience  surrounding the Great Recession.

“I couldn’t find a job in Spain after I graduated, in 2005,” Fernandez Sierra shared. “We  were in the middle of   the  economic  crisis  in Spain,  but  people  didn’t  know  about it  yet.  You  could   just  feel it  in  the  atmosphere.  In  my experience, The Recession affected opportunities – it  ended up being   why  I stayed in   San Diego.”

While       some    faced economic downturn  more directly,  others  utilized   the societal  trends  to  distract   themselves.   Today,  not  all  of  the  pop  culture recession indicators are about coping — a lot of them glamorize saving money.

USD  first-year  Julia  Few explained  her  go-to  money saving strategy in light of being a college student in the current economy. 

“I    actually    just made my   own  dorm  matcha today,”  Few  said. “It was fire.  I   think   it’s  a  great  use  of your  resources  to  do that, and  it  saves  you  a  lot  of  money.”

According to the National Coffee Association, 99% of all coffee and matcha products are imported from foreign countries. The mass reliance  the U.S. has on foreign coffee products is leading to a 4% increase in drink prices monthly — something wholly unreasonable for most Toreros to keep up with. Fun, caffeinated  drinks  can cost in the   double digits, so concocting drinks at home is an easy, and  sustainable alternative    way  to  save  money.

Another  way   for  Toreros  to indulge   on  a   budget   is   DIY nails. The phrase “recession nails”  coined its way to popularity on TikTok, referring to the simple, non-acrylic  style   that   has made a  comeback. These nails  have  low  maintenance, pink  or  white  designs.   The  cost effective  look has bled   its  way into   campus life.

USD senior Khushi Patel described  why she avoids         salons. 

“I  started doing my own nails because it’s just really expensive having to go in every month to get my nails done,” Patel explained. “The amount of money  starts to build up by going in every single month   and getting $40–$70 expenses.  Whereas I can just buy   all  of my stuff, I think I spent  maybe $100, a little over $100 on everything and now I can   do    my nails whenever I want to,  and it’s technically free.” 

Another obvious cultural recession indicator is the resurgence of vintage style — something acquired through shopping at thrift stores, or “thrifting.” Secondhand consignment shops like Goodwill  or   the Salvation Army sell used clothing, trinkets and shoes all for a  relatively low price. Like DIY  nails,   the  cheap cost is the appeal.  The   best part is that for a lot of thrift stores, profits go toward charity.

USD first-year Chase Parker offered his thoughts. 

“My mom goes thrifting a lot, and I know that  a     lot of college students do too,” Parker said. “I do notice a lot of things           are getting really expensive. [Thrifting] is good because it’s cheaper.”

While thrifting, DIY nails and make-your-own coffee are all jokingly “recession indicators,” they are all essentially just trends that make fun  of   the   turmoil in the economy. One prevalent trend is the classic white shirt and blue jean outfit. The easy combination is another  recession  indicator, because  of  its  simplicity and relative affordability. 

USD sophomore Rebecca Demonteverde criticized the idea of wearing only what is on trend. 

“I understand the whole ‘recession  indicator  thing,’ but I  think that  people  need to just  stop following  the   trends,” Demonteverde asserted.  “They  need to grow a  little  bit  of  a  backbone  when  it comes  to  their personal style.”

While   these   trends  may not   be  as   good  at   predicting the economy as the  stock market,   pop culture    recession  indicators   are   one of the ways  that Gen Z   makes   light of an   anxiety-inducing economy. Whether  it’s brewing matcha in the dorms or thrifting a new outfit, students are finding creative ways to save without sacrificing fun.

Simple outfits have been trending which some people consider a recession indicator. @Brandymelvilleeuo/Instagram