43% of shoppers plan to spend more this peak, Kenco finds

A recent Kenco report shows that 43% of North American consumers surveyed plan to increase their spending during the upcoming peak season, up from 20% last year. This increase in consumer spending comes with higher expectations for supply chain services. In the survey, 73% of respondents considered free shipping a standard expectation when shopping online, while 48% anticipated two-day delivery, 47% expected free returns, and 40% looked for real-time tracking.

Most goods are already in stock, with the Global Port Tracker reporting August as likely the busiest import month of 2026. Frank Loewen, senior vice president of retail operations at Kenco, explained that this boost in planned spending could be due to consumers feeling more financially secure or expecting prices to rise. However, higher prices are also a concern, with 45% of respondents naming import tariffs as a cost issue.

The expectation of free shipping can be traced back to Amazon's Prime memberships, which allow the company to subsidize shipping costs, putting pressure on third-party logistics providers (3PLs) and retailers to absorb those costs elsewhere in the supply chain. Kenco is addressing this by locating inventory closer to population centers and negotiating carrier rates to maintain flexibility for the last mile.

This shift in consumer behavior also impacts returns, with 5% of respondents stating that return policies don't influence their purchasing decisions. Instead, they may place additional orders to take advantage of free shipping, return unwanted items, and expect quick refunds. Some retailers are now charging for returns, while encouraging shoppers to use drop-off points at malls and supermarkets.

Hidden fees have become a concern, with 32% of respondents threatening to stop shopping with a retailer after encountering them. Accurate stock levels are crucial for maintaining consumer trust, with 80% of respondents indicating that inaccurate inventory information damages their confidence in a retailer. Kenco uses real-time inventory data through its warehouse management systems and robotics to scale capacity during peak seasons, allowing them to maintain high levels of accuracy and efficiency.