When was this published?

This article was first published on July 25, 2026 by NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate) and curated for The Nashville readers.

Who reported this story?

This story was reported by Justin Boggs at NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate).

Where can I find related coverage?

See more business coverage from The Nashville, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs.

business

Inflation, economy cited as shoplifting rises, survey says

Summary by The Nashville Editorial Desk · Byline on the source page: Justin Boggs, as published by NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate) · July 25, 2026 · 1 min read

Photo: NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate) · view original

A recent survey by LendingTree found that shoplifting has increased over the past year. The survey reported that 30% of respondents admitted to shoplifting at least once, which is up from 23% the prev

Why this matters in The Nashville

In Nashville, the rising trend of shoplifting has significant implications for local businesses, particularly small retailers who may not have the resources to invest in advanced security measures. As the survey suggests, national chains are more likely to be targeted, but this does not mean local stores are immune to the problem. In fact, the economic insecurity that drives some individuals to shoplift can have a disproportionate impact on community-based businesses that rely on local customers. The fact that food and nonalcoholic drinks are the most commonly shoplifted items also raises concerns about food insecurity in Nashville, and whether some individuals are turning to shoplifting out of desperation. As the city's retailers work to refine their security measures and partner with law enforcement, it will be important to consider the root causes of shoplifting and explore solutions that address the underlying economic and social issues.

About this story

As published by NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate). The Nashville surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

For the complete original report, visit NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate). Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom.

Category: business · Published: July 25, 2026 · Source: NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate) · Reading time: 1 min

Summary created by	The Nashville Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Byline on source page	Justin Boggs, as published by NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate)
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 25, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 25, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

Inflation, economy cited as shoplifting rises, survey says

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