UNITED STATES - Americans are making their shopping preferences known. A recent report from Reuters noted that online spending and home delivery are experiencing a rebound following the post-pandemic slump, and grocers might want to be on the lookout.
According to the report, shoppers originally turned to online shopping during the pandemic to avoid in-person shopping or because the stores themselves were closed. Now, with gas prices surging, they’ve come back to this method, but experts do not know for how long this consumer trend will continue.
For major retailers like Walmart and Target, e-commerce sales make up a significant portion of their sales. For example, Target said its online sales returned to growth in Q1 2024. Walmart reported a surge of 22 percent in one week alone last week.
To get into the nitty gritty of the numbers would perhaps detract from the importance of the report: Shoppers are seeking convenience and they’re hoping to get it at a fraction of the cost.
As inflation continues to be felt by consumers along the supply chain, we’ll report on what’s being done to counteract their spending behaviors.
