What luxury means to consumers

In the eyes of consumers, luxury means quality and service.

Buying beautifully crafted products, traveling first class, and dining with rare ingredients are considered luxuries in the eyes of consumers. Beyond the functionality of a product or the pleasure of an experience, luxury is also an inherent part of the signs that signify social status and make people feel like they are part of a group, sharing rarefied air or first-hand knowledge.

To better understand consumer habits around luxury products and experiences, we surveyed 2,203 U.S. adults about whether they believe luxury experiences need to cost more, what they consider to constitute “luxury,” and examined attitudes across key industries such as retail, food, and travel.