The influence of political affiliation on consumer buying habits are becoming increasingly apparent as of late, as more individuals lean towards brands and products that align with their own political beliefs.
This divide in consumer buying habits started during the pandemic of 2020 and is ramping up steam as of late with the push for made in the USA products and refusing to shop at large corporations like Walmart, Target, and now even Publix who have lost their way apparently. It has recently been documented that Democrats are more likely to shop at places like Starbucks and Target and less likely to shop at Walmart, whereas Republicans are more likely to shop at Chick-fil-A, Cracker Barrel, and your local farm for fresh farm raised beef and dairy. There is a growing segment of the United States population that will now only buy things that are made in the USA and are willing to pay more for it. 72 percent of respondents to a Retail Brew/Harris Poll survey has said they do seek out American made products often despite inflation fears (Newman, 2022) . This article explores how political views shape consumer buying habits and the impact it has on the market.
