Consumer sentiment and behavior
Consumer sentiment trends
- US consumers are concerned about rising prices and cautious in discretionary purchases. Millennials and Gen Zers are most inclined to change their spending habits, while older generations resist such change [1].
- European consumers demonstrate a mix of caution and optimism, balancing between splurging moments and practicality. Inflation doesn’t cause much concern, as its rate is slowing down, and the economy shows resilience [2].
- China is increasingly optimistic, and consumption growth remains steady. Despite some economic uncertainty, Chinese consumers’ intent to splurge continues to rise from already high levels [3].
- India showcases robust spending in non-essential categories, since consumers in this region are optimistic and have a strong intent to splurge across categories, especially those associated with leisure and lifestyle [3].
- In South Korea, economic uncertainty makes consumers turn to cautious consumption. 67% of respondents intend to cut back on discretionary purchases, especially on travel, furniture, and electronics [3].
- In Japan, consumer sentiment remains deeply pessimistic. 67% of respondents name rising prices and inflation their main concern [3].
- In Australia, mixed feelings prevail over optimism and pessimism, but consumers anticipate economic rebound after slow growth [3].
Consumer behavior trends
- Consumers spend 90% of their free time doing solo activities [4].
- A bring-it-to-me mindset is changing the retail segment. Over one third of respondents name large e-commerce platforms as shopping destinations for all their needs [4].
- Social media are increasingly often used for product research [4].
- Older generations are coming to social media: 33% of Gen Xers in Europe and the US use TikTok, and 35% of baby boomers are on Instagram [4].
- Gen Zers are going to be the wealthiest generation in history. Understanding this generation is crucial for every business set for long-term growth [4].
- Consumers prefer locally owned companies to global brands, especially in such categories as apparel and household supplies [4].
Key dates in spring
April 5 — Easter
A major spring holiday celebrating renewal. Popular traditions include joyful egg hunts, decorating baskets, exchanging gifts and sharing sweet treats with family. Easter is a floating holiday, and in 2026 it falls on April 5.
April 22 — Earth Day
An annual event dedicated to environmental protection and demonstrating support for sustainability. It is marked by activities like planting trees, cleaning up litter, and raising awareness about ecological issues.
May 10 — Mother’s Day
A holiday honoring mothers and maternal figures, celebrated in many countries. It is traditionally observed with gifts and other acts of appreciation. In the United States, this holiday is celebrated on the second Sunday of May.
June 21 — Father’s Day
A holiday dedicated to celebrating fathers and paternal figures for their love, guidance, and hard work. Common traditions include giving gifts and spending time together as a family. In the US, it is celebrated on the third Sunday of June.
What’s in demand
Easter gifts and decor
While being a major Christian holiday, Easter is also celebrated by non-religious people. It has become the holiday of renewal, when nature awakens from winter slumber and everyone is getting ready for the joys of warmer seasons. In 2026, Easter falls on April 5.
In the weeks leading up to this holiday, a lot of buyers look for Easter-themed decor and gifts: garlands, wreaths, and other ornaments. They usually feature the traditional Easter attributes that symbolize fertility and rebirth — the Easter Bunny, chicks, and eggs. Many people exchange gifts and organize fun activities for children, such as Easter egg hunt or egg decorating. To attract more attention to giftable listings before this holiday, create compelling social media posts, Easter-themed promo banners and ads.
Popular items:
- Homeware with Easter motifs
- Ornaments featuring egg baskets, bunnies, chicks, or flowers
- Easter greeting cards
- Chocolate eggs, bunnies, and other sweets
- Egg decorating supplies
- Pastel-colored apparel with floral patterns
Spring and summer fashion
In March and April, buyers are shopping for spring clothes and footwear. Dresses peak around Easter Sunday, while women’s tops and blouses also see a surge in demand in March. Starting from April, early birds are getting ready for summer: buying beachwear, hot weather apparel and hats. Sunglasses sell surprisingly well throughout the whole spring.
Popular items:
- Spring apparel and footwear
- Hats and sunglasses
- Summer clothing and footwear
- Beachwear
Garden and patio
During spring and summer, a large portion of adult consumers tend to spend a lot of time in their backyard or outdoor space. It means that a vast majority of consumers eagerly purchase both functional and decorative items, looking to spruce up their patch of land. Starting from early spring, there is a traditional surge of demand for gardening tools and supplies, home and garden decorations, as well as relaxation attributes (hammocks, fire pits, patio furniture sets, and such).
Popular items:
- Gardening supplies
- Lawn care and lawn mower parts
- String lights and other decorations
- Patio furniture
- Pool equipment and parts
- Pillows and rugs
- Hammocks
- Fire pits
Home improvement and cleaning
The renewal of nature usually inspires a wave of home improvement projects and the deep-seated tradition of spring cleaning. In addition to garden furniture and supplies listed in the previous section, many people buy tools and parts to repair broken appliances and redecorate their living space. The category of vacuum cleaners also demonstrates a seasonal uptick in demand. As days become longer and sunnier, a good number of buyers invest in solar power supplies to generate green energy and save on electricity bills.
Popular items:
- Vacuum cleaners
- Power tool batteries
- Washer and dryer parts
- Cooking appliance parts
- Solar power supplies
- Water filters
- Portable fans
- Furniture and storage
Outdoor equipment
Warmer weather motivates consumers to spend more time outdoors — whether for exercise or recreation. That’s why there is usually a surge in demand for hiking clothes and equipment, camping gear, bicycles and cycling accessories, rollerblades, skateboards, and more. Create compelling listings or optimize the existing ones to make them more visible and attractive.
Popular items:
- Backpacks
- Tents, stoves, sleeping bags
- Summer sports equipment
- Bicycles
- Athletic wear
Eco-friendly products
Earth Day aims to raise awareness about global environmental issues. It’s neither a public holiday nor a grand festival, but eBay sellers can use this occasion to showcase their eco-friendly items: refurbished electronics, biodegradable and recyclable products, vintage collectibles, and such. As PwC’s recent survey reveals, consumers are willing to pay about 10% more on sustainably produced or sourced products despite the rising economic concerns. [5]
Consider offering discounts on sustainable items in your inventory and motivate potential buyers to make environmentally conscious purchases. Don’t forget to use eco-friendly packaging and mention this in your listing titles! A lot of buyers opt for greener products even if they are slightly more expensive.
Popular products:
- Reusable shopping bags and household products
- Stainless steel water bottles and straws
- Bamboo utensils
- Sustainable fashion and accessories
- Organic food products
- Eco-conscious home decor
Mother’s Day gifts
In spring, a lot of buyers come to eBay to purchase gifts for Mother’s Day. In 2026, it will be celebrated on May 10 in the US and most other countries. Popular gifts include personalized jewelry, fashionable accessories, household appliances, and other thoughtful presents. If some of your items can make great gifts, add relevant keywords (“best gift for mom”, “Mother’s day gift”, etc.) to listing titles and descriptions for better visibility. You can also set up volume pricing to motivate buyers to purchase more of your items.
Mother’s Day dates in different countries in 2026:
- March 15 (UK)
- May 3 (Spain, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania, Portugal)
- May 10 (US, Canada, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Finland, Brazil, Venezuela, and more)
- May 31 (France, Poland, Sweden, Dominican Republic)
Popular items:
- Custom jewelry
- Personalized gifts
- Engraved keepsakes
- Beauty products
- Gift baskets
- Smart home devices
- Kitchen appliances
- Handbags
Father’s Day gifts
Though Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June (US), a lot of buyers start browsing eBay in May — looking for ideas and prompts. It’s your chance to increase the sales of giftable items: gadgets, toolkits, sporting goods, auto accessories, outdoor gear, and various hobby supplies. Don’t forget to include relevant search phrases into titles and descriptions of your listings: “best gift for dad”, “father’s day gift”, etc.
Father’s Day dates in different countries:
- March 19 (Italy, Spain, Portugal)
- May 10 (Romania)
- June 7 (Switzerland, Lithuania)
- June 5 (Denmark)
- June 14 (Austria, Belgium)
- June 21 (US, Canada, UK, France, Ireland, Argentina, Mexico, and more)
- June 23 (Poland)
Popular items:
- Neckties, cufflinks, personalized accessories
- Gadgets and tech-related products
- Outdoor and sports gear
- Hobby supplies
- Auto accessories
- Shaving kits and other self-care products
- Toolkits
- Apparel
Useful tips
We have prepared a list of recommendations that will help you make the most out of spring trends.
- Promote calendar-specific items weeks in advance. Thus you will catch “early birds” and minimize potential surplus stock
- Run a flash sale at the end of the season to attract more buyers and offload surplus stock
- Take major sporting events into account and plan your stock and promo activities accordingly
- Use practical tools for increasing seasonal sales: discounts, Promoted Listings, Promoted Stores and Store newsletters, social media posts and Promoted Offsite
- Add a printed coupon with a promo code to your package, and your customers will be more likely to make another purchase
- Use spring holiday visuals in your eBay Store, listing photos and promo banners to create the right mood for your buyers
- Pack items with love and care. Add a nice touch to your parcel by adding a small inspiring sticker or a card with kind words
Tap into spring trends and ride the wave!