Foot traffic at warehouse stores saw a significant increase in the weeks leading up to the original tariff implementation by President Donald Trump and during the week of April 7 when reciprocal tariffs were set to go into effect, before a 90-day pause, according to data.
Placer.ai data revealed a sharp rise in foot traffic at warehouse stores compared to superstores, grocery stores, and gas stations, as shoppers tried to get ahead of potential price increases.
A NielsenIQ survey of 1,000 consumers in March showed that 31% were stocking up on groceries in anticipation of tariffs, while others were expediting non-grocery purchases to avoid price hikes.
Weekly data from Placer.ai at the beginning of the year indicated that visits to warehouse clubs were consistently higher than other retail categories. For example, foot traffic at warehouse clubs ranged from 6.4% to 10% compared to superstores at 2.4% to 6.6%.
As consumers heard more about impending tariffs and "Liberation Day" on April 2, foot traffic at warehouse stores in March began to increase significantly, reaching a peak of 9.7% higher than the previous year.
Despite a brief dip in foot traffic the week before the tariff implementation, warehouse stores saw another surge in visits the week tariffs were set to go into effect.
Placer.ai noted that consumers are likely to favor retailers offering bulk purchasing and low prices, areas where warehouse clubs excel. NielsenIQ surveys also indicated that consumers are actively stocking up on goods.
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