These are some of the ways inflation is changing Americans’ spending habits
These are some of the ways inflation is changing Americans’ spending habits
August 21, 20225:01 AM ET
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The SolDias ice cream stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth area noticed some customers were downsizing their orders this summer. The chain is exploring ways to cut costs to keep prices in reach.
Courtesy of Victor Garcia
With inflation near a four-decade high, American shoppers are watching their pennies and adjusting their spending habits – and the businesses that cater to them are taking notice.
The change in spending is affecting retailers across the country, from giants like Walmart to the neighborhood supermarket, as they look for ways to deliver more affordable products to their customers.
Here are four examples of what businesses across America are seeing, and how they are adjusting to the new shopping reality.
ECONOMY
Inflation is cooling thanks to gas prices, but many things still cost a lot more
The family supermarket that’s offering gas promotions
Tom Charley’s family has been selling groceries in the Pittsburgh area for four generations, through lots of economic ups and downs. Even his father, who ran stores during the high inflation of the 1970s and ’80s has never seen a period quite like this.
“It’s a challenge, for sure. There’s no doubt about it,” Tom Charley says.
The three Charley Family Shop N Save markets have long prided themselves on high-quality service, with in-store butchers and bakeries. But today, the company’s newspaper ads are more likely to highlight discounts on yogurt than premium, hand-cut steaks.
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“We are as focused today as we’ve ever been on price and making sure we can get items that people care about at the best price possible,” Charley says.
That means beating the bushes for lower prices on everything from bananas to the plastic wrap used to package prepared foods. Even as shoppers are trying to save money, Charley says, they still want the ease that comes with pre-cut vegetables or market-crafted kebabs.
“Convenience is king,” Charley says. “They
