It wants to lock in Gen Z early with convenient products that align with their lifestyles.

AI will be an efficiency driver, while capturing young premium users is a top priority.

The issuer targets new consumers with rewards tied to account balances.

Visa promises cardholders cash-back rewards in new accounts, but lacks the ability to enforce.

Klarna launched its premium membership model in the US, per press release. Klarna has been trying to compete with premium credit card rewards as a buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider, but the cash-back rates for both tiers are paltry compared with credit cards, which often offer 2% cash back for all purchases with no annual fee. BNPL rivals should make using installment loans for big-ticket items—a key growth area for providers—as easy as possible, like by offering 0% interest holidays, instead of promoting toothless rewards structures.

American Express debuted Amex Ads, a new digital advertising platform that allows brands to connect with its 34 million customers, per a press release. Amex Ads will go live on AmexTravel.com before spreading to other Amex platforms. Amex has the power to link advertisers with high-spending consumers, which are driving the bulk of US spending during a period of economic uncertainty—and Amex’s earnings. By granting access to consumers who already are interested in prestige travel and dining experiences, advertisers can attach themselves to Amex’s strong brand halo for luxury experiences, delivering strong ROI for ad spend.

The news: Mastercard launched the World Legend Mastercard, a premium card for higher-spending customers, alongside an overhaul of rewards and perks across the entire Mastercard Collection. Our take: We anticipate that card networks will jockey for the most premium cards as issuers cater to wealthy consumers’ reward wish lists.

Though beauty has remained a relatively resilient category amid rising prices, tariffs could put a damper on that as they take hold. 29% of US adults say they’ll likely cut back on beauty/personal care spending if tariffs raise prices, according to February 2025 data from CivicScience. That’s why retailers like Walmart, Amazon, and Target are boosting their beauty offerings to drive sales and increase customer loyalty. Here’s how.

Travel brands and issuers are pushing premium cards to attract affluent consumers and boost revenues

The company said its premium base will help it withstand a potential economic slowdown or other macroeconomic concerns

Tariffs threaten innovation’s pace: Prolonged trade wars could hike smartphone prices and delay new tech rollouts, making midrange devices a safer, more strategic choice for buyers and brands. Read online

YouTube has more users than Facebook, Netflix, or Spotify. But its advertising revenues do not match its vast reach. This report contextualizes the opportunities and scope for growth in various media spheres.

A budget-friendly premium tier could pull podcast fans away from Spotify, offering ad-free listening where they already watch—on YouTube, and increasingly, on their TVs.

With features like video and synced illustrations, Spotify seeks to rebrand as more than audio-only and tap into the growing audiobook market.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss why Pinterest is growing so fast, how Snapchat is able to get more and more folks to pay for its premium service, and why people are spending increasing amounts of time on Reddit. Tune in to the discussion with our director of Briefings Jeremy Goldman and analyst Daniel Konstantinovic.

YouTube Premium hits a subscription landmark: The service now enjoys 100 million subscribers after YouTube spent much of 2023 cracking down on ad blockers.

Apple considers pricier iPhones to spur sales: Can an even more premium iPhone help increase sales? Apple seems to think so. Meanwhile, carriers are discounting its latest models in China by $100.

Smartphone consolidation continues: Apple’s iPhone continues to gain share in the high end of the smartphone market while consumers get fewer options for affordable or entry-level 5G devices.