The impact.com and Cardlytics Consumer Spending Intelligence Report combines transaction-level data from impact.com’s network of 2,368 North American retail brands with Cardlytics purchase intelligence representing approximately 195 million cardholders from partnered institutions across the United States. Together, these two data sources form one of the most comprehensive pictures of retail consumer behavior available today.
The data shows inflation has changed how consumers shop. Purchase journeys are longer. Consideration is deeper. Conversion requires more touchpoints. Shoppers are filling carts with more items while spending less per order. This isn’t happening not because demand is gone, but because they’ve become more deliberate about where and how they spend.
For brand and marketing leaders, the opportunity lies in the gap between research and purchase. Brands that invest in influence earlier in the journey—through content partners, commerce media, and deal-based channels—are capturing the buyers that pure conversion tactics are missing.
This report covers the macroeconomic forces shaping consumer caution, category-by-category performance data, seasonal spending cycles, and a 2026 strategic outlook with actionable recommendations for brand leaders.
