The monthly trend monitor provides a unique data-driven overview over the most important global consumer, industry, and society trends. How it works: We use the SONAR trend radar, which tracks the volume of written scientific and journalistic publications on a certain trend, to find out what the top five trends are in these three categories. Utilizing intelligent algorithms, SONAR analyzes a continuously growing database of more than 40 million publications from academic journals, expert blogs, mass media, and patent registers to gain unique insights on global trends.
SONAR can sort trends by Volume (number of articles relevant to a trend and relative to the SONAR index), Growth (YoY growth, volume of the last 12 months vs. previous 12 months) or Momentum (MoM growth, volume of the last month vs. volume of the previous month).
Each month, we present the top 5 consumer, industry, and society trends by Momentum.
Top 5 Consumer Trends in May 2024
Data Privacy has maintained its position as the leading consumer trend in terms of momentum in May, a status it also held in the previous month. Remarkably, it is the sole trend from the previous month’s top five that has managed to retain a spot within the top five this month. Furthermore, its momentum has more than tripled when compared to the previous month, underscoring its significant and growing importance.
Top 5 Industry Trends in May 2024
Among the industry trends, the number one trend has also remained unchanged, with Data Security continuing to dominate. Following in the ranks are Internet of Things and Cognitive Care & Mental Health, the latter of which is an uncommon yet significant addition to the top five trends by momentum, indicating an increased focus on mental wellness in the global economy.
Top 5 Society Trends in May 2024
The leading society trend, Global Threats, reflects a concerning escalation in conflicts worldwide, with the crisis in Ukraine and the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East serving as stark examples. However, despite its prominence, this trend is actually experiencing a year-over-year (YoY) decline. In contrast, the second-ranked trend, Individualization, is demonstrating substantial YoY growth, highlighting the increasing importance of personal identity and autonomy in society.
