Bloomberg Second Measure
Bloomberg Second Measure, acquired by Bloomberg LP in 2020, analyzes anonymized consumer transaction data to provide near-real-time insights into company performance and consumer trends.
Profile
Analyzes credit card transactions to track consumer spending patterns for investors.
Bloomberg Second Measure, acquired by Bloomberg LP in 2020, analyzes anonymized consumer transaction data to provide near-real-time insights into company performance and consumer trends. The firm processes billions of transactions from millions of U.S. consumers, offering daily updates on thousands of public and private companies with an 8+ year historical dataset. Its data is delivered via Bloomberg Terminal (ALTD and ECAN ) and through aggregated feeds, serving primarily institutional investors seeking early signals on earnings or market shifts.
Recent analysis by Second Measure highlighted bifurcated spending at U.S. theme parks in summer 2025, with affluent consumers driving growth at premium destinations while regional parks saw declines—a pattern mirroring broader travel sector trends. The company operates as a Bloomberg subsidiary without disclosed standalone financials, benefiting from integration with the Terminal's 350,000+ user network while facing scrutiny over data privacy practices common to transaction analytics firms.
Who buys this
- Hedge funds and asset managers tracking consumer companies
- Private equity firms conducting due diligence
- Investment banks analyzing market trends
- Corporate strategy teams benchmarking competitors
Strengths and what to watch
Strengths
- Proprietary dataset covering billions of transactions with 2-7 day latency
- Integration with Bloomberg Terminal ecosystem for institutional workflows
- Vertical specialization in retail, dining, travel and subscription economies
Watch for
- Regulatory scrutiny over anonymized transaction data aggregation practices
- Competition from alternative data providers like Earnest Research
- Dependence on Bloomberg's distribution amid Terminal subscription pressures
Recent moves
Key Information
- Founded
- 2015
- Headquarters
- New York
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bloomberg Second Measure do?
Bloomberg Second Measure analyzes anonymized credit card transactions to track consumer spending patterns. It processes billions of transactions from millions of U.S. consumers, providing daily updates on thousands of companies with 8+ years of historical data primarily for institutional investors via Bloomberg Terminal.
How do investors use Bloomberg Second Measure data?
Hedge funds, asset managers, and private equity firms use Second Measure's transaction data to track company performance, conduct due diligence, and identify market trends. The data offers near-real-time consumer spending insights with 2-7 day latency, helping investors spot earnings signals before traditional reports.
Is Bloomberg Second Measure data available outside Bloomberg Terminal?
While deeply integrated with Bloomberg Terminal (accessible via ALTD <GO> and ECAN <GO> commands), Second Measure also provides aggregated data feeds. However, its primary distribution channel remains the Terminal's ecosystem of 350,000+ financial professionals, offering seamless workflow integration for institutional users.
What industries does Bloomberg Second Measure cover best?
Second Measure specializes in retail, dining, travel, and subscription economy analytics. Recent analysis highlighted bifurcated spending at U.S. theme parks, demonstrating its strength in tracking discretionary consumer spending patterns across premium and value segments of specific industries.
How does Bloomberg Second Measure compare to Earnest Research?
Both analyze transaction data for investment insights, but Second Measure benefits from Bloomberg Terminal integration while Earnest offers different sector specializations. Second Measure's 8+ year dataset and daily updates appeal to investors needing historical context with near-real-time consumer behavior tracking.
Are there privacy concerns with Bloomberg Second Measure's data?
Like all transaction analytics firms, Second Measure faces scrutiny over anonymized data aggregation practices. While it processes billions of transactions, the data is anonymized and aggregated to protect consumer privacy—a balance common in alternative data providers serving institutional investors.
Sources
- secondmeasure.com — Core product offerings and positioning
- www.forbes.com — Recent analysis of theme park spending trends
- professional.bloomberg.com — Integration with Bloomberg Terminal ecosystem
- techcrunch.com — Industry context on data provider competition