By Danielle Smith
On this Cyber Monday, Pennsylvania shoppers may be caught off guard by what’s for sale, online and on store shelves. Retail experts have said people should expect to see less variety for popular holiday gift categories like toys, electronics and clothing, as federal policies are forcing companies to be more selective about what they offer.
Jason Miller, professor of supply chain management at Michigan State University, said he agrees shoppers probably will not have the range of choices they are normally used to seeing this time of year.
“That is because importers are being quite cautious and only bringing in their bestsellers and/or the products that they make the most profit on per sale,” Miller explained. “The big reason for that is because of the tariffs.”
He pointed out shoppers might also notice subtle quality shifts, such as fewer accessories or slightly cheaper materials, as companies look for ways to trim expenses.
Beyond costs and supply, Miller stressed the shopping experience itself may be shifting in a new direction. Instead of ‘making a list and checking it twice,’ he expects many shoppers to use high-tech options for gift-giving guidance this season.
“There will be a lot of folks who will be turning to ChatGPT, or Claude, or Grok, or any of these different AI chatbots and programs in order to ask for shopping advice,” Miller observed. “‘Where should I go? What should I buy?’”
Overall, Miller underscored the uncertainty from the recent federal shutdown and the possibility of another in January, makes predicting this year’s holiday spending tougher than usual.
However, according to the National Retail Federation, U.S. retail sales this season are expected to be almost $1.2 trillion nationwide.
This story was originally published by Public News Service.