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Almost 12 percent of Americans say they shoplift regularly, according to new LendingTree survey data, almost double the percentage from two years ago. But the survey signals a more complicated trend than a simple response to inflation: While more people admit to stealing from stores, fewer say they do so because they cannot afford what they need.
In 2024, 6.1 percent of respondents said they “regularly shoplift,” which rose to 11.5 percent in 2026. The increase was especially sharp among men, rising from 8 percent in 2024 to 15.6 percent in 2026, and among parents of children under 18, which rose from 9.8 percent to 19.7 percent.
The findings suggest that retail theft may be evolving from what some respondents describe as an economic necessity into behavior that is increasingly habitual or shaped by broader attitudes toward retailers and the economy.
“This reflects a broader backlash against modern capitalism,” Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9Innings podcast, told Newsweek. “People are beginning to ask, ‘When is enough, enough?’ and increasingly view this as a battle between corporate power and everyday Americans.”
For retailers already grappling with theft prevention, the rise in repeat offending may prove particularly significant because habitual theft is often more difficult to deter than isolated incidents.
Fewer Shoplifters Cite Financial Necessity
In 2024, 33.9 percent of those who had shoplifted said they did so because items were too expensive to afford, compared with 19.1 percent in 2026.
Additionally, the share of respondents who said they shoplifted “to make ends meet” fell from 29.5 percent to 17.2 percent, while those who said they did it “to save a few dollars” declined from 26.5 percent to 16.7 percent.
“We shouldn’t simply blame inflation without looking at the broader picture,” Thompson said. “Many people increasingly believe large corporations are not paying their fair share, and some even justify shoplifting as a way of striking back. Much like the robber barons of the early 1900s, there is a growing resentment.”
Overall, when asked if they had ever shoplifted, 29.6 percent of respondents in the 2026 LendingTree survey said yes, compared with 22.9 percent in 2024.
The online survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers ages 18 to 80 was conducted from June 2 to 11 using a nonprobability-based sample, with quotas used to make the sample representative of the overall population.
Shoplifting in the US: 2024 Versus 2026
“Unfortunately, as inflationary pressures weigh on millions of Americans, some turn to crime to fill the financial gap,” Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek.
“The result, as seen in these statistics, is a rise in shoplifting among both men and women. No matter how the individual attempts to mentally justify the action, shoplifting is a crime, and the result of doing so can be disastrous for one’s personal and professional future.”
The data shows that men remain more likely than women to admit to shoplifting. In 2026, 36.3 percent of male respondents said yes when asked if they had ever shoplifted, compared with 23.2 percent of female respondents. Men were also more likely to say they regularly shoplift, at 15.6 percent compared with 5.5 percent of women.
Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek: “When times get tough. Belts tighten. People rationalize that shoplifting isn’t bad; it’s surviving.”
How Inflation Shapes Americans’ Views of Shoplifting
Consumers continue to feel pressure from elevated prices, even though inflation has cooled from its 2022 peak. The annual average U.S. inflation rate was 2.9 percent in 2024, down from 4.1 percent in 2023 and 8 percent in 2022, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed.
By June of this year, the Consumer Price Index was up 3.5 percent over the previous 12 months.
In the 2026 survey, 89.6 percent of respondents agreed with the statement “I shoplift due to inflation and the current economy.” Additionally, 80.3 percent of all respondents agreed that inflation had made people more likely to shoplift.
That means that Americans broadly believe inflation contributes to shoplifting, even as individuals who admit to stealing are less likely than before to say affordability is the direct reason for their stealing.
What Are Americans Stealing?
Food and nonalcoholic drinks were the most commonly stolen items, according to both the 2024 and 2026 surveys.
In 2026, 29.6 percent of those who had shoplifted said they had stolen food or nonalcoholic drinks, followed by clothing, accessories or jewelry at 25.2 percent and personal hygiene products at 20.1 percent.
In 2024, food and nonalcoholic drinks were also the top category, as 45.1 percent of admitted shoplifters said they stole items in that category. Clothing, accessories or jewelry followed at 38.5 percent, while makeup or cosmetics were cited by 21.4 percent.
Parents also admitted to stealing items for their children. In 2026, 9.6 percent of admitted shoplifters said they had stolen baby products or diapers, while 13.5 percent said they had stolen school supplies.
What Rise in Repeat Shoplifting Means for Retailers?
Retail theft has become a persistent concern for businesses as it can raise operating costs and ultimately affect prices for shoppers. Repeat shoplifting can also be more costly and harder to deter than individual incidents.
In the 2026 LendingTree survey, 47.6 percent of those who had shoplifted said they had been caught before, which was almost unchanged from 47.7 percent in 2024.
Among those who had been caught, 27.3 percent in 2026 said they had been arrested the most recent time they were caught, up from 24.2 percent in 2024.
In 2026, 37.6 percent said they were given a warning, 14.9 percent said they were fined, 13.5 percent said they were banned from the store and 6.7 percent said there were no consequences.
Altogether, 60.7 percent of overall respondents in the 2026 survey said there should be stricter punishment or enforcement for shoplifting, almost unchanged from 61.2 percent in 2024.
What Happens Next
Because the percentage of those who say they regularly shoplift has increased sharply while inflation has declined, retailers are likely to keep investing in anti-theft measures.
For some, though, the jump in regular shoplifting may not only reflect lingering economic stress but also changing social attitudes toward theft entirely. That has implications for the everyday consumer as well, experts say.
“The effects are not just bad for those shoplifting, but for other customers,” Beene said. “Added security measures make the shopping experience at some retailers even more difficult.”
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jenni Fink and Shakeema Edwards.
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