In 2001, it was lipstick. After the 2008 financial crisis, it was DIY haircuts. In times of economic turmoil, consumers tend to change the way they spend on makeup and beauty. So what is the beauty industry telling us now about the state of the US economy? 

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Ben Steverman visits a beauty convention and talks to masseuses and hair stylists about the trends they’re seeing in their salons, and cosmetics reporter Jeannette Neumann crunches the numbers on how these consumer behaviors are hitting companies’ bottom lines.

Read more:
The Beauty Salon Recession Indicator
Estée Lauder Forecasts Return to Sales Growth in 2026

In 2001, it was lipstick. After the 2008 financial crisis, it was DIY haircuts. In times of economic turmoil, consumers tend to change the way they spend on makeup and beauty. So what is the beauty industry telling us now about the state of the US economy?&nbsp;
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg&rsquo;s Ben Steverman visits a beauty convention and talks to masseuses and hair stylists about the trends they&rsquo;re seeing in their salons, and cosmetics reporter Jeannette Neumann crunches the numbers on how these consumer behaviors are hitting companies&rsquo; bottom lines.
Read more:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-11/recession-indicator-us-hairstylists-report-clients-cut-spending?srnd=undefined">The Beauty Salon Recession Indicator</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-01/estee-lauder-el-forecasts-return-to-sales-growth-in-2026?srnd=undefined">Est&eacute;e Lauder Forecasts Return to Sales Growth in 2026</a></li>
</ul>

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

Big Take

Are Current Beauty Trends Recession Indicators? It’s Complicated.

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ebf30f8c-b4d4-41dc-bbba-b2e6010ed74a/transcript

From online banking and social media to digital ads and AI subscriptions, digital services are the fastest-growing segment of global trade. Unlike physical exports, they’ve been subject to little regulation, taxation or tariffs. Until now.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg global trade editor Brendan Murray and David Gura dig into the rising tensions over the almost $5 trillion in digital services sold across borders each year, why a consequential WTO meeting could change everything and what it means for the global tariff war.

Read more: Trump Starts Rebuilding Tariff Protections Targeting China, Europe 

Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Brendan Murray; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.

Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

From online banking and social media to digital ads and AI subscriptions, digital services are the fastest-growing segment of global trade. Unlike physical exports, they&rsquo;ve been subject to little regulation, taxation or tariffs. Until now.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg global trade editor Brendan Murray and David Gura dig into the rising tensions over the almost $5 trillion in digital services sold across borders each year, why a consequential WTO meeting could change everything and what it means for the global tariff war.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-03-12/trump-and-301-tariffs">Trump Starts Rebuilding Tariff Protections Targeting China, Europe</a>&nbsp;
Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Brendan Murray; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.
Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Your Streaming Subscription Could Be the Next Trade Battlefield

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a64cac8d-e5de-4a75-8788-b40c015f0273/transcript

In the first 24 hours of US attacks on Iran, the scale of firepower more than doubled that of the US’ initial assault on Iraq in 2003 — an expansion made possible by the Pentagon’s embrace of AI. Just hours before the attack, the US parted ways with AI company Anthropic, after the company raised concerns over how the Defense Department might use its tools. The Pentagon says it wants the ability to use the tools for “all lawful purposes.”

On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura sits down with Bloomberg national security and tech reporter Katrina Manson — author of the upcoming book Project Maven: A Marine Colonel, His Team, and the Dawn of AI Warfare— and Bloomberg senior editor Mike Shepard to discuss how the US is integrating AI into its warfighting machine and the guardrails in place for the military as it utilizes AI technology to make life-and-death decisions.

Read more: ‘God, It’s Terrifying’: How the Pentagon Got Hooked on AI War Machines

Katrina Manson’s book isProject Maven: A Marine Colonel, His Team, and the Dawn of AI Warfare.

Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Katrina Manson and Michael Shepard; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.

Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

In the first 24 hours of US attacks on Iran, the scale of firepower more than doubled that of the US&rsquo; initial assault on Iraq in 2003 &mdash; an expansion made possible by the Pentagon&rsquo;s embrace of AI. Just hours before the attack, the US parted ways with AI company Anthropic, after the company raised concerns over how the Defense Department might use its tools. The Pentagon says it wants the ability to use the tools for &ldquo;all lawful purposes.&rdquo;
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host David Gura sits down with Bloomberg national security and tech reporter Katrina Manson &mdash; author of the upcoming book Project Maven: A Marine Colonel, His Team, and the Dawn of AI Warfare &mdash; and Bloomberg senior editor Mike Shepard to discuss how the US is integrating AI into its warfighting machine and the guardrails in place for the military as it utilizes AI technology to make life-and-death decisions.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-03-12/iran-war-tests-project-maven-us-ai-war-strategy?srnd=undefined">&lsquo;God, It&rsquo;s Terrifying&rsquo;: How the Pentagon Got Hooked on AI War Machines</a>
Katrina Manson&rsquo;s book is <a href="https://wwnorton.com/books/project-maven">Project Maven: A Marine Colonel, His Team, and the Dawn of AI Warfare</a>.
Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Katrina Manson and Michael Shepard; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott.
Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Iran War Spotlights the Pentagon’s AI Strategy

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6aaf432c-f5b5-4e55-bc2d-b40b01603cfd/transcript

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Brian Chappatta and Olivia Fishlow unpack the recent tumult in the world of private credit. How cracks formed in this $1.8 trillion market, how companies are trying to tamp down investor anxiety and what it all could mean for the private credit industry’s efforts to get into 401(k)s. 

Read more: Private Credit’s Gate-Crashers Are Forcing Funds Into a Brutal Spot 

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Brian Chappatta and Olivia Fishlow; Edited by Naomi Shavin and Tracey Samuelson.

Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg&rsquo;s Brian Chappatta and Olivia Fishlow unpack the recent tumult in the world of private credit. How cracks formed in this $1.8 trillion market, how companies are trying to tamp down investor anxiety and what it all could mean for the private credit industry&rsquo;s efforts to get into 401(k)s.&nbsp;
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-03-08/blackrock-blackstone-confront-withdrawals-as-private-credit-redemptions-surge">Private Credit&rsquo;s Gate-Crashers Are Forcing Funds Into a Brutal Spot</a>&nbsp;
Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Reported by Brian Chappatta and Olivia Fishlow; Edited by Naomi Shavin and Tracey Samuelson.
Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Why So Many Private Credit Investors Want Out

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/fb8e1d18-91a9-4ff1-a15a-b40a016d3bdd/transcript

Are Current Beauty Trends Recession Indicators? It’s Complicated.

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