Archive · 20 Nov 2025
Post-Pandemic Shift: Loner Economy Replaces Hermit Economy
After the pandemic, people are spending more on going out and having fun, but they're doing it alone.
This is different from the early pandemic years when people spent more on goods and stayed home.
Now, people are more likely to travel and dine alone, which is why some call this the 'loner economy'.
The 'hermit economy' of the pandemic years has been replaced by a 'loner economy'
Spending on services like travel and dining out has recovered to pre-pandemic levels
However, consumers are now more likely to engage in solo activities and travel
This shift is evident in increased searches for 'solo travel' and solo dining
Americans are more likely to eat alone, with over a quarter reporting doing so the previous day
- Who
- Consumers worldwide
- What
- Are spending more on out-and-about activities but preferring to do so alone
- When
- Post-pandemic era
- Where
- Worldwide, with notable examples from America and Europe
- Why
- Due to a shift in consumer behavior, with people now preferring solo activities and travel
Proponents of the Loner Economy
Advocates for Social Interaction
Spending habits
Proponents of the Loner Economy
People should be free to spend their money on activities they enjoy, even if it's alone
Advocates for Social Interaction
Encouraging social interaction and community engagement should be a priority for businesses and policymakers
- Pre-pandemic spending on services
- Collapsed during the pandemic
- Post-pandemic spending on services
- Recovered to pre-pandemic levels
- Global online searches for 'solo travel'
- Exploded in the past couple of years
- Americans eating alone the previous day
- Over a quarter, a sharp rise from pre-pandemic levels
- Share of consumer spending on services
- Has caught up with its trend from before the pandemic