OH holiday spending and product quality may clash

By Terri Dee

Black Friday is two days away and Ohio shoppers may be caught off guard by the offerings on store shelves.

Retail experts said shoppers should expect less variety on popular holiday gifts like toys, electronics, and clothing, because federal policies are forcing companies to be more selective.

Jason Miller, professor of supply chain management at Michigan State University, said shoppers probably will not have the selection they are used to seeing this time of year.

"That is because importers are being quite cautious and only bringing in their bestsellers and/or the products that they make the most profit on per sale," Miller explained. "The big reason for that is because of the tariffs."

He pointed out shoppers may also notice subtle quality shifts, such as fewer accessories or slightly cheaper materials, as companies look for ways to cut costs. While tariffs are driving up expenses on many hard goods, Miller noted prices have remained relatively stable, with soft demand keeping retailers from passing price increases on to consumers.

The University of Cincinnati predicts Ohioans will spend an estimated $32 billion during the 2025 holiday season, a nearly 4% increase from last year. Beyond shifts in production costs and supply, Miller added the shopping experience itself may be shifting in a new direction. Instead of making a list and checking it twice, he stressed many shoppers may use high-tech options for shopping guidance this season.

"There will be a lot of folks who will be turning to ChatGPT, or Claude, or Grok, or any of these different AI chatbots and programs in order to ask for shopping advice," Miller observed "‘Where should I go? What should I buy?'"

Overall, Miller emphasized the uncertainty from the recent federal shutdown and the possibility of another in January, makes predicting this year’s holiday spending tougher than usual. The news is not so dim in Ohio. The Ohio Council of Retail Merchants said the state's low cost of living, positive job and wage growth, and decreased inflationary pressure will boost holiday spending totals.