Consumers are seeking significant value from companies they shop from - in more ways than one.
AAPL
STZ
TSLA
AMZN
Why it matters: Affordability alone isn't improving Americans' affinity for a brand amid sustained levels of high inflation, according to findings from this year's Axios Harris Poll 100 brand reputation survey.
State of play: Americans are juggling a "skimp and splurge" budget strategy, in order to pocket life's necessities and must-haves, results from the poll suggest.
Between the lines: Perceptions of e-commerce giant Shein likely took a hit from allegations about its business practices, the study suggests.
By the numbers: A majority of Americans polled (59%) now say, "I care more about the values of the companies I interact with today more than ever before."
What they're saying: "Consumers are smart ... they know [when] there's virtue signaling," Gerzema said, which can backfire if companies try to appease multiple political viewpoints.
The big picture: Overall, companies that make real, tangible products matter more to consumers now than those providing digital services, the poll results show.
Go deeper: Full results and poll methodology
Get more business news in your inbox with Axios Business Suite.