Investing Blog

When social networks meet data compiling its a win-win for investors. Currently Geezo.com uses the data it compiles from its members to categorize where the average member is shopping, how much they’re spending and how frequently they visit a shop, store or business. Their members turn over their precious spending data to be compiled in the Geezo Main Street Spending Index.

If we can’t trust the FEDs numbers and Congress lying through their teeth, the spending of the average person is something we can trust and can be plotted and understood on a chart. The Geezo community tracks 4 million consumer purchases and 800 different stores and brands to decipher how people are spending their money.

The Consumer Data page shows how stores are lining up against others and the data collected from each member can be used to see which companies are taking over their competitors.

Using this data as an investor may be largely ineffective because of the small sample that the Geezo community represents and the majority of Geezo members are heavy savers or those looking to pay off credit cards. Even so, they’re still spending money on things like fast food and other items and have a recent preference to Starbucks over Dunkin’ Donuts for whatever it matters to the investor:

Using the Geezo community to make investments may be a little difficult knowing that the Geezo sample is so small but its a great way to get a general idea of this recession. People are still spending money and they still favor certain brands.

While the Geezo community data may be inaccurate after representing a very small part of US spenders, it is extremely interesting and worth a look to see how certain businesses are faring. Unfortunately the data cannot be adjusted for the distance from some locations to others or how Starbucks has a virtual monopoly on Seattle’s coffee drinkers. But in any fashion its an interesting tool to see how the economy is moving. Check out Geezo’s consumer data here: consumer data

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