While computer and mobile shopping were behaviors already adopted by at least ********* of global consumers before COVID-19, the pandemic gave a boost to a variety of e-commerce technologies and services. Among Gen Z and millennials surveyed in 2022, ** percent said they had adopted contactless payment methods during the coronavirus and continued to use them after the crisis. In contrast, ** percent said they did so during the health emergency but no longer use them. Moreover, the COVID pandemic also drove the uptake of delivery alternatives such as Buy Online, Pick-up in Store (BOPIS) and curbside pickup.

Social media's influence on Gen Z shopping habits has surged dramatically in recent years. A 2024 survey reveals that ** percent of Gen Z consumers discovered new products or brands through social media influencers, up from ** percent in 2023. This shift underscores the growing importance of digital platforms in shaping consumer behavior, particularly among younger demographics. Beauty and personal care e-commerce growth The rising impact of social media on Gen Z purchasing decisions aligns with broader trends in e-commerce, particularly in the beauty and personal care sector. Global revenue in this market is forecast to increase by ***** percent between 2024 and 2029, reaching a new peak of ****** billion U.S. dollars. This growth trajectory suggests that the digital landscape will continue to play a crucial role in consumer discovery and purchasing habits. Payment preferences among young consumers Traditional payment methods remain popular among Zoomers. A survey across North America, Europe, and Latin America found that debit and credit cards are still preferred by Gen Z for online shopping and travel bookings. However, younger consumers are showing a growing demand for diverse payment options, indicating potential shifts in the e-commerce landscape as digital wallets gain prominence, particularly in Asia-Pacific markets.

In 2023, about two-thirds of millennials in the United States said they would prefer to shop mostly online for leisure, sports, and hobby products. Only about 14 percent of millennial consumers said they would prefer to shop predominantly in-store for such goods.

In 2021, ** percent of baby boomers preferred in-store shopping, while only ** percent chose online shopping as their primary method of buying. Many millennials and Generation Z shoppers also opted for in-store shopping but showed a way greater interest in hybrid buying methods, at a rate of ** and ** percent, respectively. Favorite brands among young shoppers When comparing male and female Generation Z shoppers in terms of brand preferences in the United States, it was apparent that both groups enjoyed many of the same household names. For instance, brands such as Amazon, Walmart, YouTube, and Netflix appeared on both lists, making them some of the generation’s most popular brands. That said, preferences were far from identical: more Gen Z women liked Doritos, Oreo, and KitKat, while a higher number of Gen Z men had a favorable opinion of Gatorade, PlayStation, and Nike. Sustainable considerations Climate change is a hot topic and is on many consumers’ minds in recent years. As such, a considerable share of people in the United States, and around the world, have started taking up more sustainable habits. For example, many have adapted their shopping and consumption behavior: according to a survey conducted in early 2022, more than half of consumers worldwide planned to avoid buying new goods for sustainability reasons, perhaps intending to buy secondhand or repair the goods they already owned instead.

Among the categories listed, clothing and shoes stood out as the most frequently purchased by Gen Z consumers as of the second quarter of 2023, with ** percent shopping for them monthly. Entertainment and electronics followed closely, with ** and ** percent of respondents. Conversely, the category with the lowest frequency of purchases by Gen Z consumers during the same period was home and garden, with only ** percent of respondents buying products within that category every month.

In a survey of millennial consumers in the U.S., around ** percent of women said Instagram had the most influence on their shopping habits, compared to ** percent of the men surveyed. Younger millennials between the ages of 25 and 29 stated they were most influenced by more visual content-focused platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Meanwhile, those in their 30s and 40s said Facebook was the primary platform shaping their shopping behavior.

In 2023, approximately ** percent of zoomers in Mexico said they would do most of their clothing and footwear shopping online if they had the freedom to choose. On the other hand, ** percent of millennials and ** percent Gen Z consumers had a preference for buying apparel and shoes in physical stores.

In the United Kingdom (UK), millennial shoppers were the group purchasing clothing and shoes the most online. A total ** percent of millennials, aged 27 to 42, reported shopping mostly online for clothes and shoes in the 2nd quarter of 2023. Gen Z shoppers followed, with ** percent mostly shopping online for their apparel.

This statistic illustrates the most popular disposable income spending habits of the Millennial generation in the United Kingdom (UK) as of January 2016. It can be seen that ** percent of Millennials stated that socialising was where their remaining disposable income was most likely spent at that time.

According to a survey conducted in December 2023, about ************** of millennials in the United States buy products on impulse at least occasionally. The results show that Gen Y was the most likely generation to make impulse purchases.

Choosing products based on quality rather than appearance was the major shopping-related habit among Generation Z consumers as revealed in a survey conducted in Japan in December 2021. Around ** percent of respondents expressed agreement towards the statement that they place more importance on the substance of a product instead of its appearance, of which **** percent agreed very much.

In 2023, more than ** percent of millennials in the United Kingdom (UK) said they would prefer to buy children's products online, given the freedom to choose. Only just over ** percent of millennial consumers had a preference for buying kids' products in physical stores.

Nearly half (43 percent) of millennials worldwide were worried about their personal financial situations in 2023 and changed their spending habits as a result. The vast majority of Generation Y members were at least somewhat concerned about their finances, but not all respondents changed their spending behavior.

As of 2018, millennials' shopping habits towards groceries moved towards online shopping. Indeed, millennials were found to use internet as a purchase destination for buying packaged food (***** percent), as well as personal and beauty care products (**** percent). By contrast, only *** percent declared to buy fresh and frozen products online.

According to a survey conducted among consumers in the United States, ** percent of Millennial respondents said sustainability was a driving factor behind their purchasing decisions. Gen Z respondents driven by sustainability amounted to ** percent.

During an October to November 2022 survey carried out among consumers worldwide, ** percent of all respondents were willing to share data on how they consume or use products via surveys, interviews, and online forms. The highest share of respondents feeling comfortable with such data collection stood among millennials, at ** percent.

Italian Gen Z consumers keep an eye on grocery leaflets, a 2024 survey revealed. According to the findings, 88 percent of Gen Z shoppers check digital or printed advertisements before purchasing grocery items, while another 55 percent of them pick the grocery store, based on promotions and discounts available on leaflets.

According to a survey conducted in 2024, nearly **** of Gen Z consumers in the United States shared that they compared prices on Amazon before making a purchase. Just over a ******* of the surveyed looked for the item to buy second hand.

As of early 2023, nearly ** percent of millennials in the United Kingdom (UK) said they would do most of their shopping online if they could choose freely, making it the generation most in favor of buying on the web. At less than ** percent, not as many baby boomers enjoyed online shopping. It was also the only generation with a higher share of shoppers who would choose to do most of their shopping in-store.

In early 2022, nearly ** percent of Gen Z consumers in the United Kingdom (UK) indicated that price was a deciding factor when making a purchase, making it the generation's leading consideration when shopping. That being said, a considerable share of zoomers also kept other aspects in mind, such as a brand's sustainability efforts and their social media content.