Study Shows Fewer Shopping Trips

Schaumburg, Ill. A Nielsen study revealed that consumers are combining errands and making fewer shopping trips. Reasons behind the trend, according to The Nielsen Co. report released on Monday, include high gas prices and other economic pressures.

Nielsen’s consumer packaged goods (CPG) research showed that while shopping frequency across most retail channels is flat or declining, supercenters, which enable consumers to combine shopping trips with more items in one store, continue to show growth.

Nielsen’s research shows that retailers are responding to consumers’ desire for value and convenience with increased store openings. Store count is on the rise in many retail channels, according to the report, particularly in warehouse clubs, supercenters, dollar stores and convenience stores. Store closings and conversions of mass merchandise stores to supercenter formats have resulted in a decline in overall mass merchandise count, and while supermarket count is up, the growth is not at the rate of other retail channels.

“Increased store counts tell us that value and convenience are winning in the marketplace,” said Todd Hale, senior VP of Consumer & Shopper Insights, Nielsen Consumer Panel Services.