Generational Shopping Trends 2026

Gen Z and Millennials Will Drive the Next Era of Retail Growth

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About This Report
The next wave of retail growth is coming from younger shoppers. They blend stores, social commerce, and AI with ease. But rising expectations around trust, transparency, and control are reshaping the path to purchase.
Table of Contents

Social commerce, AI, and omnichannel shopping are reshaping how consumers discover and buy products. As digital behaviors evolve, retailers face a growing challenge to deliver more personalized, seamless experiences without sacrificing trust and transparency.

Key Question: Which generations are driving major shopping trends in 2026?

Key Stat: Product quality outweighs discounts for close to half of Gen Zers and millennials; Gen Xers value both almost equally; and baby boomers prioritize discounts over quality.

authors

Paola Flores-Marquez

Contributors

Sky Canaves
Principal Analyst
Suzy Davidkhanian
VP, Content
Blake Droesch
Erika Huber
Director, Report Editing
Na Li
Director, Primary Research
Jennifer Pearson
VP, Research
Heather Sprung
Director, Report Editing
Johann Valderrama
Data Visualization Editor
Emman Velasco
Data Visualization Editor
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