Article Summary –
Michigan shoppers are expected to encounter less variety and subtle quality changes in products due to importers being cautious and focusing on bestsellers and profitable items, primarily influenced by tariffs. Despite these challenges, companies are not fully passing on the increased costs to consumers due to soft demand, while the shopping experience is evolving with many turning to AI tools like ChatGPT for guidance. The uncertainty from recent and potential future federal shutdowns adds complexity to predicting holiday spending trends.
By Chrystal Blair
As Black Friday nears, Michigan holiday shoppers might notice a change in their seasonal shopping experience.
Retail specialists highlight three factors impacting cart contents this year: reduced shelf variety, subtle quality changes to stabilize prices, and tariffs making companies more selective.
Jason Miller, a supply chain management professor at Michigan State University, stated that shoppers might not see the usual selection this season.
“Importers are cautious, only bringing in bestsellers and high-profit items,” Miller said, attributing this to tariffs.
He noted that shoppers might see minor quality adjustments, like fewer accessories or cheaper materials. While tariffs increase costs for many hard goods, Miller noted, soft demand prevents retailers from transferring these increases to consumers.
Miller added that beyond costs and supply, the shopping experience itself might evolve. Instead of a traditional list, he suggested shoppers might rely on AI technology for guidance this season.
“Many will turn to AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Grok for shopping advice,” Miller said. “Where should I go? What should I buy?”
He emphasized that recent federal shutdown uncertainty and another potential in January make predicting this year’s holiday spending more challenging than usual.
This story was originally published by Public News Service.
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