One of the more predictable shopping trends of 2024 is consumers looking for the best deals they can find. It may seem like an obvious point. As the cost of many goods and services has risen in recent months, so too has our desire to save the dollars we can.
This is especially the case in the fashion industry, where cheaper clothes are increasingly easier to come by. No longer do shoppers need to spend an entire afternoon hunting through the mall for a good polo shirt, pair of jeans, or formal dress to wear to an event. Affordable quality fashion is now accessible even from the comfort of our homes, and thanks to many stores' lenient return and exchange policies, trying on many styles has also never been easier.
Once popular retailers that teens and adults frequented on a busy weekend, like Express, Forever 21, Macy's and Gap, are now relics. Many have shuttered hundreds of stores, filed for bankruptcy, or sought rebrands and new ownership. Shoppers now are opting for cheaper and easier shopping experiences, which can often be found at off-mall retailers like TJ Maxx, outlet malls, even big-box stores like Target and Walmart .
And yes, online, too. Image source: Tim Boyle/Getty Images Nowadays, it's incumbent upon retailers not only to stay current with trends — from beauty and cosmetics to hydration and supplements — but also to price goods competitively. The Consumer Price Index shows that prices in May increased 0.
3% from April. The ticked up 3.3% on a 12-month basis, .
