Survey: 73% of Americans Admit Most Purchases Are Spontaneous
Impulse buying has increased by 14% in 2022 compared to 2021, and shoppers are spending over $300 a month on spontaneous purchases.
Written by Claire Beaney
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
A new survey found impulse spending increased among Americans by 14% in 2022 compared to 2021, with 73% of respondents saying most of their purchases are spontaneous.
The poll, conducted by online shopping platform
Slickdeals
, saw 64% of U.S. adults reporting an increase in impulsive spending during 2022. The survey of 2,000 American consumers aimed to compare impulse purchase habits between April 2021 and April 2020.Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversShoppers spend over $300 on impulse purchases monthly, but inflation is changing priorities
The typical consumer spends $314 per month on impulse purchases, up from $276 in 2021 and $183 in 2020, according to this year's study. Additionally, the average consumer is willing to pay $310 for a single item, up from $277 in 2021 and $157 in 2020.
Inflation has had a "big impact" on what people spend their money on though, according to 68% of participants.
As a result, seven out of 10 people are more mindful of their budget this year, and 41% said they’ve had to spend more on necessities.
"This year's survey indicates Americans are spending more on impulse purchases than in the past two years,” Louie Patterson, personal finance content manager for Slickdeals, commented.
“While inflation is certainly impacting budgets across many essential shopping categories, interestingly, we're also seeing consumers reporting an increase in the frequency of their impulse spending."
Spontaneous shopping can impact your mood
Over half of participants (67%) said impromptu shopping sprees improve their mood, a 2% increase from the previous year.
Happiness (41%) and excitement (40%) are among the emotions shoppers experience after making a purchase, yet a third (34%) acknowledge they merely shop out of boredom. Two-thirds (67%) have bought impulsively to avoid the fear of losing out.
Patterson added, "Fear of missing out is a powerful motivator for impulse purchasing, but as indicated in the survey, 58% of Americans report that unplanned purchases have actually saved them money.
“We regularly witness the positive effects of impulse purchasing through our community of shoppers helping one another find the best prices at any given time. Tapping into a great deal on household items, coffee, or technology products can ultimately help you save on your budget."
The most frequent unplanned purchases in 2022 include:
- Clothing (35%)
- Food and groceries (30%)
- Household items (29%)
- Shoes (28%)
- Technology (27%)
- Books (27%)
- Takeout (26%)
- Toys (25%)
- Coffee (25%)
- Spa services (24%)
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