The couch economy describes a curious shift in American spending: people can spend an entire evening at home and still send money to half a dozen businesses without getting up. Dinner arrives at the door, a streaming service supplies the entertainment, an online retailer delivers tomorrow’s impulse purchase, and a subscription quietly renews while everyone sleeps.
Staying home no longer means staying out of the marketplace. In fact, the living room has become a shopping mall, restaurant, movie theater, and entertainment center rolled into one. That convenience can save time and sometimes money, but it can also make spending harder to notice. The couch economy changes not just what Americans buy, but how easily they buy it, how often they spend, and what they consider a normal expense.
