Study: Consumers spend fuel savings on groceries

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A majority of consumers are spending savings from lower fuel prices to buy groceries. According to the new “Why? Behind the Buy” report from Acosta Sales & Marketing, 72% of shoppers ages 18 to 34 years will spend fuel savings on groceries.

 

Almost all (95%) U.S. shoppers report buying household groceries at regular supermarkets in the past six months; followed by shopping at mass merchants (79%); warehouse/club stores (42%); dollar and drug stores (39%); convenience stores (25%); natural/organic grocers (21%).

 

Millennial and Gen X shoppers show slightly greater interest in drug stores, convenience stores and natural/organic grocers than total U.S. shoppers. Twenty-seven percent of shoppers reported purchasing a grocery item online at least once a month, over the past year, up from 23% the prior year. Four-in-10 of those currently shopping online said that they expect to increase their order frequency in the next year.

 

While about seven-in-10 shoppers make the decision to shop a particular category at home, 55% of shoppers typically decide what brand to buy while in the store. When it comes to product loyalty, 65% of shoppers will switch products if their specific item was unavailable; 20% will wait until the next trip; 11% will go to another store; and 4% are not sure what they would do.