According to a new study from financial site LendingTree, among 2,000 respondents Americans 30% admitted to shoplifting in 2025, which is said to be a significant increase from 23% in 2024. Shoplifting is becoming more common as many consumers continue to struggle financially, the survey found.
The majority (90%) of respondents who admitted to shoplifting in the past year cited inflation and the general economic situation as reasons. This behavior is most common among younger consumers: 39% of those aged 18 to 29 and 38% of those aged 30 to 45.
The survey data also shows that men were more likely than women to admit to shoplifting: 36% versus 23%. 28% cited financial difficulties as the reason for such actions, and 19% mentioned the excessively high cost of goods. Respondents admitted that they most often steal products for everyday use, especially in large retail chains.
Food and non-alcoholic drinks accounted for 30% of the total stolen, 25% was clothing, accessories, jewelry, and 20% was personal care products. At the same time, theft in chain stores occurs a little more often, accounting for 36% of all thefts compared to 33% in local ones.
Grocery stores continue to lead in theft rates, cited by 39% of respondents who admitted to theft. They are followed by retail chains that sell a variety of inexpensive goods (28%) and department stores (25%). Walmart is most often cited as one of the easiest stores to steal, with 47% of respondents mentioning it, followed by Family Dollar, mentioned by 21% of survey respondents, and Amazon Fresh and Kroger, mentioned by 14% and 11% of respondents, respectively.
During the survey, 12% of respondents said that they steal regularly, and 60% admitted to stealing when they were over 16 years old. 52% said they had never been caught. Of those whose theft was discovered, 38% mentioned they were given a warning, and 27% said they were arrested. Other consequences include a fine or a ban from visiting the store. At the same time, 7% say that they did not suffer any punishment.
Despite the risk of being caught, security measures do not stop respondents. A quarter of them say technology that is supposed to detect theft does not deter them from stealing. Respondents most often answer that they hide stolen goods on themselves – 33%, and 29% say they leave the store with goods in plain sight.
Other common methods of theft include hiding items in a bag or backpack (26%), cashier errors (24%), placing stolen items in other items (22%), changing price tags or packaging (20%) and distracting employees or making it appear they have paid for a purchase (20%). At the same time, 50% of consumers say they saw other people stealing, and 59% of witnesses say they did nothing to stop the thief.
“When people risk being arrested or fined to buy food, hygiene products or other essentials, it suggests that inflation and stagnant cash flows may be pushing some families into desperate acts,” said Matt Schultz, chief consumer finance analyst at LendingTree.
To overcome the financial pressures that often force Americans to resort to theft, Schultz recommends creating a realistic budget, focusing on the essentials – food, housing, transportation. It is important to take into account current prices, since old budgets may turn out to be unrealistic due to rising costs, the expert emphasizes.
Among the ways to save, the analyst mentions loyalty programs, coupons, cashback, discounts and seasonal promotions. He encourages you to compare prices before purchasing by choosing products from other stores. In addition, Schultz mentions the need to seek financial support through assistance programs, pay off high-interest debts, and avoid impulsive decisions.
