US In-Store Mobile Price Checks Jump 45% as Digital Shopping Expands

Mobile phones are becoming a central part of the US in-store shopping journey, blurring the traditional divide between e-commerce and physical retail. Consumers increasingly use their devices while browsing aisles to compare prices, research products and validate purchases. The shift matters for retailers because buying decisions are now shaped by digital information even when a transaction is completed at a physical location, raising the importance of integrated mobile and store experiences.

A new PYMNTS report found that US consumers’ use of mobile phones for in-store price checks and product research rose 45%, while the number of days they shop digitally each month also increased notably. The findings suggest shoppers are moving beyond using phones mainly to hunt for discounts. Mobile devices are instead serving as real-time decision tools at the point of purchase, deepening the convergence of mobile commerce and brick-and-mortar retail.