Most Americans Plan to Spend the Same — or More — on Retail Purchases in 2023

Despite continued inflation and the potential of a recession, roughly two-thirds of Americans plan to spend either the same or more in 2023 as they did in 2022 on retail purchases, according to a new survey commissioned by tech platform DailyPay (New York) and discount retailer Dollar Tree (Chesapeake, Va.).

The survey also found that 44 percent of respondents say they are more likely to prioritize shopping for bargains in-store compared to last year.

In a similar vein, the survey signaled a continued increase in in-person shopping, with nearly about three out of four Americans (73 percent) planning on shopping the same or more in stores in 2023 versus last year.

The survey’s results also detailed Americans’ preferences on purchasing particular merchandise lines in-store versus online:

• 81 percent prefer in-store for furniture
• 69 percent prefer in-store for home goods
• 65 percent prefer in-store for apparel
• 65 percent prefer in-store for sporting goods
• 59 percent prefer in-store for electronics

“It’s encouraging to see that Americans’ spending plans are trending upward, with only a third planning to spend less this year despite these times of financial uncertainty,” said Kate Cheesman, DailyPay’s VP of Customer Success. “With more people shopping in-store, retailers will be prioritizing retaining their top talent to maximize their in-store experience.”

The survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll from Jan. 4-6 among 2032 U.S. adults ages 18 and older.