A new survey from Relex Solutions finds that 61 percent of consumers have changed how much food they purchase due to higher grocery prices, with shoppers making deliberate tradeoffs across categories.
The Relex State of Supply Chain Consumer Pulse survey of 1,000 consumers across the U.S. and U.K. reveals that nearly half (46 percent) have cut back on snacks and junk food, 39 percent have reduced beef purchases and 34 percent have cut back on alcohol.
At the same time, 68 percent say fresh groceries remain worth paying more for, and 49 percent say the same for household essentials – suggesting that consumers continue to prioritize freshness even as they make tradeoffs elsewhere. The survey also found that 71 percent are cooking at home more often than they were a year ago.
“For retailers and manufacturers, the biggest risk is assuming consumers are responding to rising costs in the same way,” said Laurence Brenig‑Jones, VP of product, platform at Relex Solutions.
“Consumers are making highly individualized decisions based on price, health goals, value and household priorities. What’s interesting is that while shoppers are pulling back in some categories, they continue to prioritize fresh groceries. That creates a very different planning challenge than broad‑based demand declines because retailers need to be able to respond to shifting demand at the category level.”
Additional findings include:
- 54 percent say lower prices are the single most important action retailers can take
- 49 percent are closely monitoring beef prices as an indicator of their overall cost of living
- 47 percent have switched to private‑label products
- 40 percent shop at discount retailers more often
- 38 percent visit multiple stores to find the best prices
- 37 percent say healthier eating habits are influencing purchasing decisions
- 10 percent say GLP‑1s or other appetite‑affecting medications have influenced how much food they purchase
More than seven in 10 consumers – 71 percent– are concerned that tariffs, geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions will continue increasing the cost of everyday goods over the next six months. Products feeling smaller or lower quality ranked as the second‑biggest shopping frustration overall, highlighting continued awareness of “shrinkflation.”
About Relex Solutions
Atlanta-based Relex Solutions provides an AI platform for decision‑making and automation related to supply chain, demand, inventory, merchandising and pricing operations. The company has more than 700 customers globally.