30% of Americans admit to shoplifting, annual survey finds

A growing number of Americans say they've shoplifted, with many pointing to inflation and ongoing financial pressures as major reasons behind the behavior, according to a new LendingTree survey.

The survey, conducted online last month, polled 2,000 U.S. adults ages 18 to 80.

Younger Americans report the highest shoplifting rates

By the numbers:

The survey found that 30% of Americans report having shoplifted, a sharp increase from 23% in 2024. Among those who have shoplifted, 37% say they've done so within the past year, up from 23% in LendingTree's previous survey.

The poll also revealed that younger generations were significantly more likely to report shoplifting than older Americans.

According to the survey, 39% of Gen Z adults and 38% of millennials said they have shoplifted at least once, compared with 24% of Generation X respondents and 18% of baby boomers.

Men were also more likely than women to report shoplifting, at 36% versus 23%.

What they're saying:

"These findings are concerning because they suggest many people aren’t shoplifting for thrills or resale, but because they feel squeezed by basic affordability challenges," Matt Schulz, a LendingTree analyst, said in a statement. "That doesn’t excuse shoplifting, but it does highlight how financially vulnerable many consumers are. When people are risking arrest or fines to obtain food, hygiene products or other essentials, it suggests inflation and stagnant cash flow may push some households toward desperate choices."

Food tops the list of stolen items

Dig deeper:

According to the data, the most commonly stolen products were everyday necessities.

Among respondents who reported shoplifting, 30% said they stole food or nonalcoholic beverages, 25% stole clothing, accessories or jewelry and 20% stole personal hygiene products.

Grocery stores remained the most commonly reported shoplifting location, cited by 39% of respondents who say they’ve shoplifted. This was followed by dollar stores (28%) and department stores (25%). Walmart was most frequently identified as one of the easiest stores to shoplift from (47%), followed by Family Dollar (21%), Amazon Fresh (14%) and Kroger (11%).

RELATED: Officers buy jacket, snow pants for freezing shoplifting suspect

Parents with children under 18 reported stealing toys, electronics and school supplies at higher rates than the general population, while Gen Z respondents were more likely to steal clothing than groceries.

Despite the findings, more than half (52%) of respondents who admitted to shoplifting said they have never been caught.

Among those who were caught, the most common consequence was receiving a warning (38%), while 27% said they were arrested. Others reported fines or being banned from stores.

"Shoplifting may feel like a way to solve an immediate cash-flow problem, but getting caught can create a much bigger one," Schulz continued. "It can lead to short-term financial costs, including fines and legal fees, as well as longer-term consequences, such as making it harder to get a job or rent an apartment."

Inflation cited as a driving force

Big picture view:

Financial stress emerged as a dominant theme throughout the survey.

Among respondents who said they had shoplifted within the past year, 90% said inflation and the broader economy contributed to their decision.

When asked about specific motivations, 28% cited financial struggles, 19% said items had become too expensive to afford, and 17% said they shoplifted to make ends meet. Another 17% said they stole simply to save money.

More than one-third of U.S. households face financial insecurity, according to LendingTree data. Separately, a recent Gallup poll found that 31% of Americans identified the high cost of living as their biggest financial problem.