5 Eye-Opening Stats About Coupons – And How to Use Them to Actually Drive Sales

5 Eye-Opening Stats About Coupons – And How to Use Them to Actually Drive Sales

With inflation still hitting wallets, consumers are turning into savvy deal hunters—and coupons are making a serious comeback. In fact, 26% of US adults say they’re using more coupons this year thanks to the current economic climate (Prosper Insights & Analytics and the National Retail Federation, July 2024).

If you want your discounts to catch attention and convert, here are five must-know stats about coupon behavior—and how to act on them.


1. Searching for Discounts Is Now a Core Part of Online Shopping

🧠 Stat to know: 62% of US consumers actively search for promo codes, discounts, or coupons when buying online (SimplyCodes, June 2024).

More specifically:

  • 59% hit up Google or other search engines before checking out.
  • 46% use coupon sites like RetailMeNot.
  • 41% check retailer apps or websites.

What this means for you:
If your discounts aren’t easy to find, they might as well not exist. Boost visibility by:

  • Optimizing promo-related SEO.
  • Partnering with top coupon websites.
  • Promoting deals right on your homepage and app splash screens.

2. Grocery Shoppers Are Getting More Price-Savvy

🛒 Stat to know: 33% of US grocery shoppers increased their coupon use this year—up from 26% in 2023 (CivicScience, April 2024).

Even more telling:

  • 60% of consumers are now looking for sale items—up from 53% last year.
  • 83% say price is a key factor in choosing which grocery store to shop at (Progressive Grocer, Jan 2024).

What this means for you:
Personalized discounts on frequently purchased items can win loyalty. Focus your promotions on value, not just volume.


3. Free Shipping Reigns Supreme

🚚 Stat to know: Across all age groups, free shipping is the most popular incentive (Ascend2 + ActiveCampaign, Oct 2023).

  • 47% say it’s a top factor when choosing where to shop online (PYMNTS + CyberSource).
  • 54% worldwide say high delivery costs are a major pain point (DHL, H1 2024).

What this means for you:
Consumers don’t want to feel forced into spending more. If your buy-more-save-more offer isn’t converting, try:

  • Offering free shipping at a lower minimum spend.
  • Focusing on clear, straightforward discounts instead of complex tiered deals.

4. Coupons Are Going Omnichannel

📱 Stat to know: 35% of US shoppers access digital coupons while shopping in-store (SPAR Group, May 2024).

Additionally:

  • 40% use their phones to search for deals in real time.
  • 23% research products online before buying them in-store (ESW, Nov 2023).

What this means for you:
Bridge the digital-physical gap. Make it seamless for in-store customers to find and use deals by:

  • Offering free Wi-Fi.
  • Using QR codes on product displays.
  • Enabling in-app coupon generation at checkout.

5. Marketers Say Coupons Are a Sales Magnet

📈 Stat to know: 64% of US retail media decision-makers believe digital coupons effectively drive sales (BWG Strategy + Turbyne, Dec 2023).

And:

  • 67% of CPG brand advertisers say both digital and paper coupons will be part of their future retail media strategy (Coresight + NielsenIQ, Aug 2023).

What this means for you:
Coupons aren’t just about discounts—they’re a smart conversion tool.
Use them within your retail media campaigns, and generate platform-specific codes for better attribution and tracking.


Coupons aren’t just old-school newspaper clippings anymore. They’re an essential part of today’s omnichannel strategy—especially when personalized, easy to find, and digitally accessible. Tap into these behaviors now to drive purchases, loyalty, and real results.

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