eBay’s 2026 Recommerce Report reveals a significant trend: secondhand shopping is becoming essential for daily life and budgeting in the United States and worldwide. For the first time, the report shows that U.S. consumers value secondhand shopping more highly for managing household budgets than their global counterparts.
According to the survey, 36% of U.S. consumers consider buying previously owned goods very important for their household budgets, compared to 28% of global consumers. Overall, 70% of global shoppers surveyed believe secondhand shopping is at least somewhat important for balancing their budgets.
The shift towards recommerce is especially notable among younger shoppers, with 53% of 18- to 29-year-olds planning to buy more secondhand products in the next 12 months, versus 36% of consumers overall. The report also finds that 47% of consumers purchase secondhand goods at least monthly, up from 35% in 2025.
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Recommerce benefits both buyers and sellers. 45% of U.S. eBay sellers reported that resale provides supplemental income, while 25% said it has been vital for their households. Notably, 85% of sellers surveyed sourced their secondhand inventory from their own belongings, suggesting more unused items are being circulated.
The environmental impact of recommerce is substantial, with 83% of consumers agreeing it has a positive effect. As recommerce grows, its social aspect does too, with 54% of consumers valuing community and shared connections, such as live shopping, in their resale experiences.
eBay CEO Jamie Iannone highlighted the company’s long-standing commitment to recommerce, stating, “Recommerce has been core to our marketplace for 30 years, and this year’s report makes clear that its role in people’s lives is only growing.” With over 2 billion live listings, eBay is well-positioned to support this global shift, offering affordability, quality, trust, and discovery to consumers worldwide.
