Competitive Dynamics of Online and Brick-and-Mortar Retail Prices

August 15, 2022

Rosa Abrantes-Metz
Mame Maloney

The authors acknowledge funding for this paper from the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA)

Prices charged by brick-and-mortar retail channels tend to correspond closely to those charged online – good news for consumers, who benefit from a competitive retail landscape through lower prices and diverse venue options. This is a key finding in an economic study by the Brattle Group analyzing nationwide price and volume aggregates alongside hand-collected price observations from individual retail locations. The study found that both channels fiercely compete on price.

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