Amid rising concerns over potential tariffs, U.S. consumers are quickly altering their shopping habits. A recent report highlights a notable shift in foot traffic patterns across various retail sectors, with a surge in store visits observed between late March and mid-April.

According to the Pass_by report, the week ending March 23 saw significant year-over-year (YoY) increases in foot traffic for categories such as clothing, superstores, shoe stores, and department stores. The uptick is largely linked to consumers eager to make purchases ahead of anticipated price hikes on imported goods.

During that week, visits to clothing stores rose by 6.20%, shoe store traffic increased by 4.36%, and superstores saw a 4.27% gain—indicating a growing urgency among shoppers to buy apparel, footwear, and essential items before potential tariff-related price surges.

However, by the final week of March, this shopping momentum began to fade. Foot traffic in several key categories declined, with clothing store visits down by 4.20% and shoe store traffic dropping by 9.49%.