Purpl Pulse · Summer 2026
The Hidden Cost of Everyday Decisions
How financial pressure is changing the way disabled consumers make everyday purchasing decisions.
Quarterly insight into disabled consumer behaviour.
PDF, 3.4MB, 14 pages
About Purpl Pulse
Purpl Pulse is Purpl’s new quarterly consumer insight programme, designed to help brands better understand the financial realities and purchasing decisions of disabled consumers.
Each report combines behavioural shopping data with large-scale member research to explore how spending habits, accessibility, confidence and decision-making are changing over time.
The result is practical insight that helps organisations build better products, services and customer experiences for disabled consumers.
5 key findings
Disabled consumers are thinking harder before they spend.
Financial pressure is changing how disabled consumers make purchasing decisions. Everyday purchases now require more comparison, more thought and greater confidence before people feel comfortable completing them.
Accessibility is part of affordability.
For many disabled consumers, the cheapest option isn’t always the most practical option. Accessibility, delivery, physical effort and confidence all influence where people choose to shop.
Confidence now matters as much as price.
Price remains important, but it is no longer the only factor. Trust, accessibility, ease of use and practicality all contribute to whether a purchase feels worthwhile.
Spending decisions are becoming mentally harder.
Financial pressure is increasing the time, effort and mental energy involved in everyday purchases.
Brands have an opportunity to respond.
Removing unnecessary barriers and improving accessibility doesn’t just create a better experience, it helps consumers feel more confident completing purchases.
In numbers
Based on survey responses from 1,344 Purpl members and 1,012 open text comments.
- 84%
- of members regularly look at discounts or offers without immediately buying
- 79%
- of members compare more options before buying than they did a year ago
- 71%
- of members say accessibility and ease of use influence where they choose to shop
- 69%
- of members are more likely to abandon a purchase than they were a year ago
- 64%
- of members say everyday spending decisions feel more mentally exhausting
- 61%
- of members feel more financially uncertain despite inflation beginning to fall
What our members said
Not only do I have to consider accessibility when shopping, I now have to factor in the excessive price increases with basic groceries.
Having to shop around is harder as a wheelchair user. I have to weigh up the cheapest price and add on fuel prices to see where it is best to shop.
Being more clearly aware of how exhausting shopping is for me and how overwhelming I find it, I prefer online or delivery.
Read the full Summer 2026 report
Download the latest Purpl Pulse report and discover how disabled consumers are changing the way they make purchasing decisions.
PDF, 3.4MB, 14 pages
