Consumer Survey: Consumers Adjusting Holiday Buying Behavior

Aware of Supply Chain Issues, Consumers Say They're Adjusting Holiday Buying Behavior New Consumer Survey Sheds Light on Holiday and General Spending Habits and Return to Office as Pandemic Continues

A full 70% of U.S. consumers report they are adjusting their buying behavior this holiday season, driven by supply chain disruptions that may impact holiday gift availability, according to a new survey by global strategy consulting firm L.E.K. Consulting. Findings indicate that 86% of Americans are aware of those supply issues.

"Surveyed consumers are expecting to purchase a larger share of their gifts online this year. In 2019, 50%-60% of gifts were purchased in-store; this year, 50%-60% of all gift purchases are expected to be online, a 10-20 percentage point increase in just two years. While consumer responses may be higher than what we'll see in reality, they clearly point to a strong inclination for online gift buying this holiday season," said Manny Picciola, L.E.K. Managing Director and co-author of "The Great Reopening and Priority Reset: Consumer Insights," a report based on a survey of 1,000 Americans in November 2021. Many comparisons in the report are between 2019 and 2021 behaviors to highlight the differences between pre-pandemic and current behaviors.