Study: Retail loyalty programs save shoppers $1,500 a year

WASHINGTON – American households save an average of $1,500 annually through retail loyalty and discount programs, according to new research commissioned by the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and conducted by Circana.

The study, released Thursday, November 12, found that 74% of consumers consider retail affordability a top concern, while 85% say loyalty programs help them get more value from purchases they were already planning to make.

The report, The Consumer Value of Retail Loyalty Programs: How Loyalty Helps American Households Navigate Affordability, highlights the growing importance of discounts and rewards as consumers seek ways to manage household expenses.

The benefits are especially significant for families with children, as 78% of those households report that loyalty programs help them stay within their budgets.

“Consumers are being increasingly deliberate about where and how they spend, and loyalty programs have become an important tool for households looking to maximize the value of those dollars,” said Kiara Barrett, global head of thought leadership at Circana.

The research also examined how consumers view trading personal information for loyalty benefits. Three in four respondents (75%) said loyalty programs generally offer a fair exchange of value, while 25% believe shoppers give up more information than the benefits are worth.

RILA president Brian Dodge said the findings demonstrate the financial value of loyalty programs and data-driven discounts, especially as affordability remains a central concern for American families.

Read the full study here.