Anyone Seeing/Exp Signs of a Significant Slowdown?

It's a slowdown that's gaining speed in some areas, non-existent in others. Some thoughts - although largely, and maybe for once, Powell is doing his job. 

- People are eating out like it's going out of style. Everywhere is packed, prices are up and people don't seem deterred. Anecdotally my sense is that people are willing to 'pay up' to go out, eat, entertain themselves - pent up from being trapped with COVID, maybe some sense of 'make hay while the sun shines' as, well, who knows if lockdowns come back again. 

- Travel is much the same way, but the last few weeks/month or two I've seen less packed planes. Beginning of this year with load factors so high, everything was jammed. It was terrible - all it took was a storm in topeka to back up everything. Now... still packed, still a mess but it feels less so. More options during the week, etc. You want extreme anecdote territory - based on how packed lounges are (AMEX, airline, etc.) It's primarily the frequent flyer, business and/or higher income folks flying... or simply everyone has a terribly overpriced credit card now. Maybe both. Anyway - just an observation that airports feel a bit lighter of late than they had towards the start of the year. 

- Hotel prices are all over the place and rental cars are pricey if you can get them even in non-city destinations. Airline tickets aren't terrible but noticeably up. Since you asked for anecdotes, some people choosing to drive 10+ hours for hockey/sports tournaments vs. fly out due to cost - although that might happen anyway. Again anecdotally - having an easier time getting both now, although you'll pay for it. Same thing with airline travel - pricing is pushing things up to the point that incremental demand is slacking off a bit IMO. 

- Housing is tough but again beginning to see or hear people saying "I'll pass on this one" or "eh - let's see in a few months". We made the decision to stay put in our rental place for another year rather than pay a hefty premium for something marginally or even slightly less desirable. You see a bit more inventory, less frothiness and at least where I'm familiar the more marginal stuff sit longer than before. Housing is still supply constrained across the board so I do think prices will be stickier - but there's simply less broad enthusiasm in my circles around buying stuff. 

- Outside of that I'd support the idea that the wealth effect is starting to hit people - my parents and their friends included. Still spending, but worrying a bit more about it. Same with others that I know, definitely less exuberant to say the least. 

- From my own life, we've not really slowed down spending that much. I might look for substitutes but largely have continued to spend and did through the Pandemic. We are an aberration though - more on the Brofessor side of things I'd think, where our expenses are highly variable and should we be forced to cut hard we could. Low fixed cost of living, no auto or student loans, etc.