Downloads of deal-hunting tools such as Price.com, Fetch and Upside surged 40% in the first 10 months of this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annie Taylor was about to drop $100 on a new pair of Steve Madden boots at the mall. Then she remembered to scan the barcode using the Price.com app and found the same pair online for about $30 less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPrice finds all these websites I never even heard of and makes it easy to find deals,\u201d said Taylor, a 31-year-old personal assistant who lives in Los Angeles and has been using the app since a friend recommended it. \u201cI got $100 boots for $67, so I was pretty happy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taylor is part of a rapidly growing cohort\u00a0of US consumers turning to\u00a0apps and web browser extensions\u00a0that help them compare prices, find coupons and maximize\u00a0loyalty rewards from retailers and brands. Most of the tools have been around for years\u00a0but are suddenly in demand thanks to the steepest inflation in four decades. It\u2019s the kind of shock that compels consumers to break from long-established shopping habits in search of new ways to save, especially during the holiday-shopping season.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n