Grocery spending is rising and price has become the dominant purchase decision driver, with 70% of consumers citing price or value as the top influence when shopping for snacks and beverages, according to Zappi's CPG-Mega Trends Report, based on a study of 2,000 U.S. consumers.
At the same time, nearly one-third of consumers (32%) say they would buy the least expensive option on shelves that meets their needs regardless of brand, highlighting how cost pressures are reshaping purchasing decisions.
This reveals that increased price pressures are causing a major shift in their purchasing behaviors, with more than 90% of consumers adjusting their shopping behavior in response to increased costs. More than 80% of consumers report higher grocery costs in the last six months, including more than 1 in 4 seeing increases of more than $50 per week.
Grocery bills continue to climb:
- Nearly 60% of Americans now spend more than $150 per week on groceries, and 1 in 4 spend more than $250 weekly.
- 52% of households with multiple children reported weekly grocery bills above $200, and 10% noted they spend more than $400 weekly.
- In the last 6 months, nearly a quarter indicate their grocery bill has risen by more than $75 a week.
Brand loyalty is weakening:
- Compared to Zappi's previous 2025 tariff research, consumers who buy only brand-name products have dropped from 21% to 10%.
- Those purchasing a mix of brand-name and store-brand items have jumped 12 points from 56% to 66% year-over-year.