Seasons don’t just change the weather—they change us too. From the clothes we wear to the food we crave, seasonal shifts influence our daily lives in surprisingly economic ways.

Did you know that our consumer behavior is affected by changes in weather and seasons? As temperatures rise in the spring and summer, we tend to shift toward lighter meals—for example: salads, fruits, and grilled vegetables. But interestingly, while we may choose less calorie-dense foods, research shows we actually consume greater quantities of food during warmer months than we do in winter!

And it’s not just about food. Our clothing choices, outdoor activities, and even shopping frequency change with the seasons. These behaviors also differ across demographic factors—such as age, gender, or location—meaning that individual preferences shape how people respond to environmental changes.

Last year we shared a post on our Instagram (@dailylifeecon) from the University of Manchester, exploring how spring/summer affects what and how much we consume (see post here)

This post was inspired by academic research from: Roslow, S., Li, T., & Nicholls, J. A. F. (2000). Impact of situational variables and demographic attributes in two seasons on purchase behavior, European Journal of Marketing, 34(9/10), pp. 1167–1180.

Want to explore how economics meets daily life? Visit our website, where we regularly link research with everyday experiences 😀