On February 28, 2025, a shopping boycott known as the “Economic Blackout” was initiated by The People’s Union USA, aiming to demonstrate consumer power by encouraging people to refrain from shopping for 24 hours, save for essential items. The call to action was motivated by a desire to shift the economic balance away from corporations and back to the public.
Data from Placer.ai, a foot traffic analytics platform, indicated varied impacts on major retailers. While Target saw a significant 9.5% decline in shopper traffic, Walmart and Costco experienced smaller decreases of 6.3% and 0.1%, respectively. Notably, Best Buy, McDonald’s, and Starbucks also reported declines of 3.4%, 3.8%, and 3.2% respectively compared to the same day last year.
Despite the noticeable drop in shopper numbers, Placer.ai suggested that trends in consumer behaviour had been declining prior to the boycott due to factors such as rising tariffs and cold weather. Interestingly, when comparing figures from the year-to-date average, many retailers actually experienced traffic increases on the boycott day. For example, McDonald’s rose by 28% and Starbucks by 15.5%, contrary to Target’s 4.1% decline.
The People’s Union USA, founded by musician and meditation teacher John Schwarz, is determined to push for economic change through mass consumer actions. R.J. Hottovy from Placer.ai noted the challenge in correlating the boycott’s immediate effect, as many retailers were already witnessing downtrends in traffic due to macroeconomic challenges. The organisation aims to amplify its message with another boycott scheduled for March 28, targeting specific retailers including Amazon.
On February 28, 2025, an economic boycott called “Economic Blackout” aimed to demonstrate consumer power. Foot traffic data reflected mixed impacts on retailers, with notable declines for Target and increases for others. Founded by John Schwarz, The People’s Union USA supports efforts against corporate dominance with another boycott planned for March 28.
The Economic Boycott Day on February 28, 2025, represented a significant grassroots effort to challenge corporate influence over consumer behaviour. While some retailers saw declines in foot traffic correlating with the boycott, broader economic trends and external factors also played a role. The upcoming boycott planned for March 28 indicates a continuing commitment by The People’s Union USA to advocate for consumer-driven change.
Original Source: wwd.com
