The Reason for the Consumer's Purchase
The purpose consumers are shopping for also affects the amount of time spent shopping. Consumers make emergency purchases usually based on sheer necessity; whereas, other purchases such as gifts and everyday products are made based on convenience.
The Consumer's Mood
Consumers' moods temporarily affect their spending patterns. Fears of an economic downturn in 2008 led to decrease in consumer spending. Companies try to get shoppers in the mood to spend by introducing sales, new lines of products, loyalty programs, etc. Time of day, the time of year, and how much time consumers feel like they have to shop also affects what they buy. People feeling depressed about the economy, leads to dramatic downturns in consumer spending. Holiday cheer usually leads to increases in consumer spending.