San Jose, California, USA, October 7th / PRNewswire / -- eBay Today, we release the 2026 Recommerce Report. The latest global research shows that second-hand shopping is becoming an increasingly integral part of daily life. The study indicates that more and more consumers around the world are turning to the resale market in search of value for money, variety of choices, sustainability, and a sense of connection.
This report, based on surveys of over 10,500 consumers and more than 1,700 eBay sellers across multiple markets, indicates that the role of the reselling market is undergoing significant changes: what was once more of an occasional or freely chosen shopping method is now increasingly becoming an indispensable part of how consumers and eBay sellers manage their household budgets and make daily purchasing decisions.
The main global findings of the report include:
- 70% of global consumers surveyed believe that second-hand shopping is important for managing family budgets.
- 47% of people stated that they purchase second-hand goods at least once a month, which is higher than the 35% in 2025.
- 76% of people stated that they have purchased second-hand products in the past year.
- 89% of people plan to maintain their spending on second-hand goods at the same level or increase it next year.
- Young consumers continue to lead this trend, with 53% of respondents aged 18 to 29 expecting to purchase more second-hand products in the next 12 months, compared to an overall proportion of 36%.
Research from eBay for the first time shows that American consumers place a higher value on the importance of second-hand shopping in managing household budgets than consumers around the world. In the United States, 36% of respondents stated that second-hand shopping is “very important” for budget management, compared to 28% globally. The new study also indicates that the resale market plays a significant role for sellers: 45% of American eBay sellers mentioned that reselling provides additional income, and 25% said that sales contribute substantially to their family’s income. There are millions of sellers from all over the world on the eBay platform, and approximately 70% of eBay sales come from small businesses. These findings highlight how the resale market is increasingly helping people stretch their budgets as buyers, while also creating economic opportunities for sellers.
eBay CEO Jamie Iannone stated: "The resale market has been at the core of our platform for 30 years, and this year's report clearly demonstrates that its role in people's lives is continuing to grow. With over 2 billion eBay items for sale, consumers around the world are embracing this model due to the affordability, quality, trust, and discovery experience that second-hand goods provide. eBay is proud to be contributing to this global transformation by connecting people with their favorite products and the economic opportunities created by the resale market."
The report also identifies several forces that will shape the development of the resale market in the next phase:
- There is a huge opportunity to release more supply: 85% of the surveyed eBay sellers indicated that their second-hand inventory comes from their personal items, highlighting the potential to bring more items that are idle at home and in closets back into circulation.
- At the same time, sustainability remains an important part of this story, with 83% of the surveyed consumers agreeing that the resale market has genuine environmental benefits.
- As the reselling market becomes more social and interactive, 54% of consumers indicate that communities and shared experiences, such as live shopping, are very important to their second-hand shopping experience.
About Research
In 2026, this research Recommerce Report was conducted based on two online surveys, in collaboration between eBay and the leading agile research platform Bounce Insights. The external consumer survey covered a total of 10,522 consumers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, Austria, and Japan. The fieldwork for the survey took place from July 9 to July 27, 2026. Respondents included those who had participated in the resale market, that is, individuals who had purchased pre-owned or second-hand goods. Additionally, a survey targeting 1,707 eBay sellers was conducted from July 15 to August 10, 2026, in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, and Japan. Respondents were active eBay sellers who had sold pre-owned or second-hand goods on the platform and were involved in the resale market.
About eBay
eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) is a global business leader that connects people and builds communities to create economic opportunities for all. The company's technology empowers millions of buyers and sellers in over 190 markets around the world, providing everyone with opportunities for growth and development. eBay was founded in 1995 in San Jose, California, and is one of the largest and most active markets in the world, helping users discover high-value and unique products. By 2025, eBay facilitated a total of $80 billion in product transactions (GMV). For more information about the company and its global online brand portfolio, please visit www.ebayinc.com.
