When it comes to what’s on the mind of shoppers in 2025, personal finances reportedly ranked among the top issues worrying Americans. The recent research, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Shein, polled 2,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older across all 50 states about current societal issues and shopping habits.

When asked which issues will have the greatest personal effect in the coming year, finances emerged as the leading concern among Americans. Notably:

  • Inflation was the most pressing issue for Americans at 67 percent.
  • Tax increases was the second most pressing issue at 43 percent.
  • The impact of tariffs on the cost of goods was the third highest issue at 35 percent.

Those ages 55+ expressed even higher concern across all these three categories (72 percent, 47 percent, and 45 percent respectively).

Least concerning? (and surprising)  Education access and quality and childcare access ranked bottom of the pack, at 9 percent and 5 percent, respectively.

As inflation continues to shape consumer behavior, Americans greatly prioritize price and quality over other factors when selecting a clothing retailer. According to the survey:

  • 80 percent cite price as the most important factor when selecting a retailer; this figure remains largely consistent with previous polling (79 percent) in June 2024.
  • 56 percent of consumers also place more importance on brands that offer a wider selection of styles, making it easier for them to find what they want.

Americans continue to feel that clothing does not have to be expensive to deliver value while acknowledging the impact of limited budgets for their household:

  • 66 percent of all U.S. adults report having a tight budget for clothing shopping.
  • 93 percent agree they feel good when they’re able to buy the exact clothing style they want.

Overall, the findings from this study are said to highlight the financial pressures weighing on American consumers in 2025, with inflation and tariffs emerging as key concerns. As economic challenges persist, price and quality remain paramount in shaping shopping behaviors, particularly in the clothing retail space.

TNote: Two surveys were conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Chinese online retailer Shein among U.S. adults aged 18 and older. The first survey was conducted from June 17-25, 2024, among 2,013 adults and the second survey was conducted January 28 through February 4, 2025, among 2,000 adults.

The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For these studies, the sample data is accurate to within +/-2.9 percentage points respectively using a 95 percent confidence level.

Image courtesy TJ Maxx