Retail, food, and beverage: Essential data and insights

From subscription services and e-commerce to tariffs and boycotts, the ways we shop and spend are in flux. Here’s Ipsos’ top data and analysis on what you need to know.

 

From boycotts to BNPL, the ways we shop and spend are in flux. How should retailers navigate inflation (and shrinkflation)? What do people want from the customer experience? And how will tariffs impact consumers? Here’s a look at Ipsos’ top data on what you need to know.

Key takeaways

 

 


 

Younger Americans are paying in installments for a wider range of purchases

When we look at Americans in aggregate, the mix of BNPL spending has hardly changed since 2023. But younger Americans use these services for a wider variety of purchases. In June 2025, they were twice as likely as those 55+  to say they’ve paid in installments for clothing, and five times as likely to have paid in installments for groceries. (Read more.)

Fewer Americans think prices are rising

 

Across a range of staples and utilities, fewer people think they are paying higher prices than thought so in late February. On everything — meat, fresh produce, electricity, food at restaurants, and perhaps most importantly gasoline and total grocery bill — we saw declines of roughly 10 points. (Read more.)

When it comes to buying products, price wins

 Price beats brand values. So does quality. And quality beats price. Most (57%) also say that they don’t really care about brands, they just buy stuff they need. However, we know that’s oversimplified: We know it varies a lot based on product categories, for instance, and we that if two products have roughly the same price, all of the other factors will tip the scales. But still good to keep in mind. (Read more.)

American shoppers could be swayed on brand choice — but many say they  aren't seeing relevant ads 

Many Americans say they don’t often buy the brand of product they intended to buy when shopping in-store. That means that brands have a strong opportunity to persuade shoppers and influence their choices in retail environments. But marketers aren’t reaching shoppers where it matters: only one in five Americans say they often see relevant ads when shopping online or in-store. (Read more.)

How tariffs could impact product categories

We tested 12 categories, from large electronics, to snacks, to staples like paper products. In each, more would cut back than stock up. Household categories like dairy, detergents and cleaners, paper products and over-the-counter medications found people saying there would be no impact, they just need to keep buying them even if they cost 10% more. But for items that are more discretionary, at least one in three said they would have to cut back. (Read more.)

Consumers are dubious about brands' environmental claims

According to Ipsos' 2025 People and Climate Change report, only one in five (22%) across 32 countries trusts environmental claims made by companies about their products and services. (Read more.)

Most Americans expect the prices of a variety of goods will increase

Most Americans say prices on a variety of goods will increase due to tariffs, while just one in five say they have seen grocery or gasoline costs go down in the last three months. Two in five say they have had to delay making a purchase because they didn’t have the money (39%), 21% say they have been unable to pay a bill on time, and 16% say they had to go into debt or use retirement savings to make ends meet (16%) over the last three months. These levels are roughly in line with previous Ipsos polls conducted in late 2024 and early 2025. (Read more.)

It's not easy to boycott, even if you want to

One in four Americans say they have stopped purchasing from a company due to politics or current events. But it turns out, it’s not so easy to boycott. Out of the 26% who have boycotted, 74% say they were successful in reducing or stopping and have stuck to it. But right below that, 61% said they reduced but stopping would be impossible. Another 51% say they tried to reduce or stop but it’s challenging to change patterns. (Read more.)

Everyone thinks grocery prices are higher — but especially older Americans

A majority of Americans say they’ve encountered higher prices across grocery categories, from fresh produce to meat and dairy, but older consumers feel especially pinched. 71% of Americans aged 18 to 34 say they’re paying more for meat, compared with 90% of those over 55 — a 19-point gap. When asked about their total grocery bill, there’s a 26-point gap between the youngest and oldest Americans. (Read more.)

Democrats are more likely to have stopped purchasing from a company because of politics

Overall, 31% of Americans say they have completely stopped purchasing from a company in the last month because of their stance on politics or current events and 29% say they have reduced spending. But these levels are higher among Democrats. (Read more.)

Consumers say prices are the largest barrier to making more sustainable choices

Around the world, the perception of high prices continue to deter consumers from sustainable spending. (Read more.)

'Buying American' remains popular, but support wavers among Democrats

About six in ten people say that where the products they’re buying are made factors into their decisions often or sometimes, with Republicans being a bit more likely to say that. But since September 2023, the partisan split has widened by 10 points, with Democratic support dipping to 50% (Republicans steady at 75%). Similarly, we see high agreement (64%) and only a slight topline dip (down from 68%) in agreement that American products are better quality. But there’s a 15-point dip in Democratic support there, too. (Read more.)

Majority of Americans, across party, feel obesity is a result of ultra-processed foods and beverages

The public is clear-eyed and decisive about what at least one driver of obesity is: processed foods and beverages. Most Americans, regardless of political party, feel processed foods are a driver of obesity. (Read more.)

Three in four think private label products are as good as brand-name goods

Three in four Americans agree that private label products are just as good as brand-name products, according to the Ipsos Consumer Tracker — a finding that reflects an increasingly thrifty American consumer. (Read more.)

Even high earners are spending more on private-label goods 

In mid-September, 33% of Americans with a household income of $100k+ and those earning $125k+  said they were increasing their spending on private label. That means that high earners are increasing their spending on private-label products at nearly the same rate as those earning $50 to $100k (37%) and exactly the same rate as those earning under $50k. (Read more.)

It's not just higher prices driving increased grocery spend 

Americans are spending more on groceries since the start of the year, and most (74%) say it's because of inflation – but 25% also say it's because they're dining out less and cooking at home more,  according to the Ipsos Consumer Tracker. (Read more.)

Americans think they know about artificial sweeteners.

Almost all Americans know that honey is a natural sweetener (95%) but when asked about stevia, aspartame and more, things got a little murkier, according to the Ipsos Consumer Tracker.  (Read more.)

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