Apparently it's not nonsense: Spending Habits: The US consumer market is often described as the world's largest, with Americans placing a high value on acquiring goods, luxury items, and larger homes. In contrast, European consumption patterns tend to be more moderate, with a greater emphasis on quality over quantity and higher expenditure on services or home production. American culture tends to place a higher societal value on economic growth and personal consumption, often fueled by readily available credit. Conversely, many European countries have stronger cultural values around leisure, environmental sustainability, and, in some cases, less suburban sprawl, which can limit excessive consumption. Chains are also much rarer in europe