Akeneo Survey Reveals Tariffs and User Reviews Are Impacting Consumer Shopping Habits

89% of U.S. consumers plan to shop this year's Prime Day; 90% say user reviews influence their purchase decisions

BOSTON, June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Akeneo, the Product Experience (PX) Company and leading provider of Product Information Management (PIM) solutions, today announced the results of a survey examining what factors influence consumer decisions when online shopping, particularly around specific deal days such as Amazon Prime Day. The results of the survey demonstrate that, as economic hardships continue, consumers are prioritizing pricing, transparency, and pre-purchase research as they engage in online shopping.

For years, consumers have flocked to "deal days" such as Amazon Prime Day. This year though, with tariffs and economic factors impacting both pricing and consumers' spending capital, consumers are being more diligent than ever about making the right purchase, at the right time. With only 67% of consumers confident they get the best price on deal days, more emphasis is being placed on pre-purchase research and informative reviews from other users.

Consumers Place Trust in Other Consumers – User Reviews Are Driving Purchase Decisions

While price continues to be a top factor in purchase decisions, a staggering 90% of consumers say product reviews influence their decision to buy a product or to look for alternative options. As consumers create a review-centric economy, brands need to prioritize authentic, consistent, and accessible reviews and product information. With prices on the rise and the ongoing threat of tariffs, consumers want to spend their money wisely and feel confident in their purchases. Akeneo's research further revealed:

• 19% say negative reviews impact their decision to purchase (or not purchase) more than positive reviews
• 32% say positive reviews impact their decision to purchase more than negative reviews

Half of Consumers Would be More Loyal to Brands that Absorb the Tariffs Cost

Akeneo's research reveals that price-conscious consumers are focusing their loyalty on brands that approach tariffs with transparency. However, transparency in the modern day goes beyond just pricing and focuses on values. Because consumers are impacted by the tariffs, with 80% of consumers reporting that their shopping decisions are influenced by the tariffs, and 40% monitoring the changing prices, brands need to rely on loyal customers to succeed and stand out.

Nearly half of shoppers (49%) say they would be more loyal to a brand that absorbs the costs of the tariffs instead of passing them along to the customer, and only 10% say their loyalty isn't impacted. In this new retail era where economic policy is impacting the checkout page, brands need to clearly and proactively communicate with consumers to earn their loyalty and keep it. Additional insights into how tariffs are impacting consumer shopping habits include:

• 17% of consumers have changed shopping habits due to tariffs (an additional 40% are monitoring them)
• 89% of consumers consider the country of origin when online shopping (16% always do, 48% sometimes do, 33% rarely do)
• 57% say tariffs are impacting their shopping habits on Prime Day specifically
  • 25% plan to skip or buy less because of possible price hikes, 4% plan to shop with other retailers

Deal Day Due Diligence: Trends in Research-Driven Shopping 

Consistent with previous research, most consumers report price as the most important factor when purchasing a product – and they are willing to do the research to find the best deals. The Akeneo data reveals 60% of consumers conduct research prior to making purchases on deal days, and only 67% believe brands offer the best deals and discounts on major deal days. With 89% of consumers planning to shop this year's Prime Day, retailers and brands need to ensure their product information and experiences are accurate and relevant to capture the sales of data-driven shoppers looking for a deal.

"As economic uncertainty continues to put consumers on edge, providing a transparent, consistent product experience has never been more critical to brand loyalty and customer conversions," said Romain Fouache, CEO at Akeneo. "Consumers are conducting their due diligence – not just around the best deals and pricing, but around the quality, consistency, and reliability of products – to ensure they're fully confident they're getting what they pay for before they click purchase."

To learn more about Akeneo and its product experience offerings, please visit www.Akeneo.com. To learn more about the full results of the survey, please reach out to akeneo@pancomm.com.

Dynata Survey Methodology

The survey was commissioned by Akeneo and conducted by Dynata, the world's largest first-party data company. The survey was conducted in late May 2025 of 1,000 U.S. consumers 18 years and older to understand consumer preferences and influences when engaging in online shopping around deal days and sales.

About Akeneo

Akeneo is the product experience (PX) company and global leader in Product Information Management (PIM); creating a world where every product interaction is an experience
that guides consumers and professionals to the best purchase, anytime, anywhere. Akeneo empowers business leaders with software, education, and an engaged community all focused on the practice of product experience management.

Leading global brands, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, including Chico's, CarParts.com, TaylorMade Golf, Rail Europe, Kering, and more trust Akeneo to scale and customize their omnichannel commerce initiatives. Using Akeneo's intelligent Product Cloud, companies can create elevated product experiences with user-friendly and AI-powered product data enrichment, management, syndication, and supplier data onboarding; as well as a comprehensive app marketplace and partner network to meet business and buyer needs. For more information: www.akeneo.com

Media Contact:
Natasha Koleas
PAN, for Akeneo
akeneo@pancomm.com 

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SOURCE Akeneo