Key consumer data

Consumer scoreboard

The 2025 Consumer Conditions Scoreboard provides analysis of recent consumer experience and behaviour in the Single Market. Key findings show that while e-commerce becomes more common, consumers are exposed to many problems. Online shoppers are over 60% more likely to experience problems with their purchases, compared to those shopping offline. 93% of online shoppers expressed worries over online targeted advertising, including the collection of personal data without consent (71%), excessive advertising (67%), and unavoidable personalisation (63%). 45% of consumers encountered online scams in the past year, and many experienced unfair practices, including fake reviews (66%) and misleading discounting (61%).

Despite an improvement in the situation since 2022, consumers continue to feel the strain of the high living costs. For example, more than one third of consumers expressed concerns about their ability to pay bills and afford everyday essentials.

The high cost of living, together with the lack of trust in the reliability of green claims, is also taking a toll on sustainable consumption habits. Environmental considerations in purchasing decisions fell 13 percentage points since 2022 (43% in 2024). 

Seven in ten consumers believe their rights are respected by traders, while over six in ten (61%) have confidence in public organisations to protect their rights. Most EU consumers (68%) are confident in the safety of the products they buy.

Press release 14/03/2025

Background: The Consumer Conditions Scoreboard is a biennial report that aims to monitor the consumer environment and measure the consumer sentiment across the EU. Its main data source is the Consumer Conditions Survey. Where relevant, data from other sources (e.g. Eurostat) is used to give contextual information.