Podcast Summary: “Choiceful Catches On”

Podcast: Your Money Minute (CNBC)
Host: Jessica Ettinger
Date: December 8, 2025
Length: 60 seconds
Main Theme:
This episode introduces the rising use of the term "choiceful" to describe evolving consumer spending habits, especially as Americans become more selective about their purchases amid economic uncertainty.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. “Choiceful” – The New Word in Consumer Behavior

• [00:00-00:18]
  • Jessica Ettinger opens by highlighting a shift in language among business leaders, citing the increasing use of the word “choiceful.”
  • Fidelity’s representative underscores that “choiceful” is a relatively new term—“which didn’t exist like maybe five quarters ago.”
  • Julia Boorstin and Michael Lasser reinforce the word’s adoption:
    • Julia Boorstin playfully asks, “Are you choiceful?”
    • Michael Lasser calls consumers “more discerning” and “cautious,” repeatedly referencing “choiceful.”
• Memorable Quote:
  • “Choiceful, which didn’t exist like maybe five quarters ago.” — Fidelity Representative [00:11]

2. Spending Priorities: Disney as a Case Study

• [00:28-00:46]
  • Jessica Ettinger notes that even Disney’s CFO is using the word “choiceful” amid the realities of expensive theme park trips.
  • Michael Lasser poses a question about consumer resilience during the holidays.
  • Julia Boorstin observes that even as consumers are more careful, they prioritize big experiences:
    • “When it comes to something as significant as a Disney experience, you don’t want to cheap out on that.”
• Notable Quote:
  • “When it comes to something as significant as a Disney experience, you don’t want to cheap out on that.” — Julia Boorstin [00:43]

3. The Consumer: Stable but Choiceful

• [00:46-01:07]
  • Jessica Ettinger transitions to a summary:
    • Disney’s Hugh Johnston and Julia Boorstin (CNBC) discuss stability and prudence among consumers.
    • Michael Lasser summarizes, “The consumer is stable but choiceful.”
    • Julia Boorstin adds, “Consumers coming out for events and in between those periods being more careful with their spending.”
• Notable Quote:
  • “The consumer is stable but choiceful. And that's been the case for throughout the last several quarters.” — Michael Lasser [00:54]

4. Broader Economic Impact

• [01:07-01:27]
  • Jessica Ettinger offers context:
    • Two-thirds of US economic growth derives from consumer spending.
    • When consumers pull back—even by being more “choiceful”—the whole economy can slow.
  • She flags CNBC’s website for further information.

Memorable Quotes & Segments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|-------|---------| | 00:11 | “Choiceful, which didn’t exist like maybe five quarters ago.” | Fidelity Representative | | 00:15 | “Are you choiceful? Choice, yeah. Are you choiceful?” | Julia Boorstin | | 00:18 | “They’re more discerning. Choiceful, that word. We hear a lot about the dollars that they spend, the consumer being choiceful and cautious consumers are being more choiceful.” | Michael Lasser | | 00:43 | “When it comes to something as significant as a Disney experience, you don’t want to cheap out on that.” | Julia Boorstin | | 00:54 | “The consumer is stable but choiceful. And that's been the case for throughout the last several quarters.” | Michael Lasser | | 01:07 | “If you stop spending, the economy literally slows down.” | Jessica Ettinger |

Episode Flow & Tone

• The tone is upbeat yet pragmatic, reflecting CNBC's style of rapid-fire financial analysis.
• The episode features a conversational back-and-forth among financial journalists and analysts, emphasizing clarity on current consumer behavior trends.
• Listeners come away with a new lens—“choiceful”—to understand how Americans are making more deliberate spending decisions in the current economic climate.

Summary Takeaway:
The term “choiceful” is now part of the financial lexicon to describe a stable—but increasingly selective—American consumer. While people aren’t halting spending completely, they’re more careful and focused, saving up for meaningful experiences like a Disney trip but cutting back elsewhere. This shift, though subtle, carries major implications for the US economy, as consumer caution can slow growth.

For more on this evolving spending story, visit cnbc.com.