We recently polled 1,000 U.S. consumers on how high prices are changing what they buy, where they shop, and which products they leave behind. But we were also curious what that looks like in practice, so we took a closer look.

Algolia analyzed searches across its grocery customer base from June through the end of August. The findings show that shoppers aren’t pulling back, but simply adapting to macro trends. They want more affordable proteins and fewer nonessential beverages and are using search to navigate everything from supply constraints to food-safety concerns.

High beef prices are changing what shoppers search for

Beef remained in high demand this summer, even as tight supply kept prices high. But shoppers appeared to be changing which kinds of beef made the most sense for their budgets.

When looking at June versus August, searches for ground beef increased 78% while searches for steak only increased 11%. What’s really noteworthy is that ground beef’s share of tracked meat searches rose from 6.4% in June to 8.8% in August, while steak’s share declined from 18.9% to 16.4%.

Chicken remained the clear favorite, though, accounting for 61% of August searches across chicken, pork, ground beef, and steak.

Consumers weren’t necessarily giving up beef: they may have been looking for cheaper and more versatile ways of buying it. Ground beef is a Swiss-army knife that can be used across burgers, tacos, pasta, casseroles, and much more, giving shoppers more ways to stretch their grocery budgets.

In our previous survey, 41% said they had cut back on premium cuts of meat or seafood. That checks out with the actual search data. It’s also an indication of what the broader market was facing, as cattle herds faced historic shortages and beef prices outpaced inflation. 

Grocers should take note and make value easier to find. A shopper looking for steak may also want a cheaper cut, a smaller package, or a different protein entirely. Search should help shoppers weigh those options quickly.

The summer beverage boost didn’t last

Cocktails and mocktails followed a different pattern. They both peaked during the FIFA World Cup in mid-June, when so many Americans held watch parties with their friends.

But by late August, that surge was no longer. Compared with the average during those two peak June weeks:

• Cocktail searches were 36% lower during the final two weeks of August.

• Mocktail searches were 49% lower.

The World Cup likely gave both a temporary lift. Food Dive reported that consumers made more repeat shopping trips for beverages and snacks during the tournament. Once it ended, shoppers shifted back to focusing on everyday grocery needs.

The decline is in line with what consumers told us. Twenty-eight percent said they had cut back on unnecessary beverage purchases, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic, to save money.

That doesn’t mean shoppers lost interest in cocktails and mocktails altogether. It shows how closely beverage discovery can be tied to a specific occasion. Consumers browse more during sporting events, holidays, and summer gatherings. When they’re over, price concerns can come back very quickly.

Grocers can take advantage of major events by connecting relevant products and recipes at the right time. A shopper searching for a cocktail ingredient during a major sporting event may also need mixers, snacks, ice, or an easy recipe. Better connectedness results in shoppers building a larger and more useful basket.

A major produce recall changed search behavior, but didn’t stop it

Food safety concerns also shaped grocery searches this summer. In mid-July, Taylor Farms recalled iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico after a major Cyclospora outbreak across numerous states.

The following week, search behavior followed suit:

• Organic-produce searches declined 46%.

• Fresh-vegetable searches declined 11%.

• Frozen-vegetable searches increased 6%.

These numbers don’t necessarily mean consumers were buying more frozen vegetables. Searches don’t always result in purchases. They might’ve been checking whether a product was affected or looking for an alternative. It is, however, exactly what makes search so important during a major food safety event.

When shoppers are uncertain, they need clear product information, accurate inventory, visible recall notices, and relevant alternatives. If they can’t find those answers quickly, they may leave the retailer’s website or app altogether.

Grocery search is becoming a decision-making tool

Altogether, the findings show just how much grocery shoppers are weighing each decision. They’re still buying beef, but looking for options that offer more value. Cocktails and mocktails appeal when there’s a reason to celebrate, but get skipped when budgets are tight. And when a food safety concern arises, shoppers turn to search to understand what’s affected and find alternatives.

Our consumer survey tells a similar story. More than half of consumers said they would use AI to compare similar products faster, while 25% said real-time inventory information would keep them coming back to a grocer.

For retailers, product discovery is no longer just about returning an item that matches a keyword. It’s about understanding the decision behind the search. Is the shopper trying to save money? Find a substitute? Check whether a product is safe? Plan for an event?

The grocers that can answer those questions quickly are the ones that will earn shoppers’ confidence. As grocery decisions become more complicated, making products easy to find is only the beginning. Helping consumers make the right choice is what builds loyalty.