Crafts and Hobbies Are Winning the Battle for Americans’ Paychecks

[PAYWALLED — summary from preview, checked 2026-09-15]

Author: Julia Fanzeres, Bloomberg (Economics) URL: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-08-14/amazon-michaels-benefit-as-more-americans-spend-on-crafts-and-hobbies (Kyle saved it as a Bloomberg subscriber gift link, which no longer unlocks the article) Published: August 14, 2026 One-line: Spending on pastimes such as crafts, hobbies and sporting goods has hit a record share of U.S. goods consumption, above even the pandemic peak, and retailers like Michaels and Amazon are benefiting.

What is reachable

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• Thesis (dek): pastime categories as a share of U.S. goods consumption are at a record, beating pandemic highs.
• Opening vignette: a retired Queens nanny spends more than $1,000 a year on beads, cord and yarn from Michaels and Amazon to make trinkets she gives away at concerts. The hobby has gotten pricier, but she says it’s worth it for the joy it brings.
• Data point (from search snippets of the article): government figures compiled by Bloomberg put hobby categories at their highest share of goods spending on record. Sales at sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and book stores rose 15% year over year in June, faster than almost every other tracked category.
• Fanzeres also discussed the story on Bloomberg’s The Big Take podcast, framed around what it says about the state of the U.S. economy.

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Connections

• Michaels and Amazon — the retailers named as beneficiaries.
• Third Places — hobby and craft communities as a counterpart to the in-person gathering places in Can This Little Bookstore Save a Rust-Belt Town.