• by Chuck Martin , Staff Writer, February 12, 2014

One stat about mobile shopping caught my eye earlier this week.

The report about digital consumer behaviors from Nielsen showed that consumers today are more connected than ever and that the majority (65%) have smartphones, the same percentage that comScore found in its latest tally.

The Nielsen data found that the amount of time consumers spend a month on using a browser and/or app on their phone has increased by about 10 hours a month.

But one of the more interesting insights in the study relates to mobile shopping.

In the no-surprise department, the majority (87%) of consumers are using smartphones and tablets for shopping activities.

But the study also found that two-thirds of smartphone shoppers use their device check prices and about half (49%) use mobile coupons.

The mobile coupons figure is understandable, since we know from numerous studies that mobile shoppers are attracted to deals.

The notion that most shoppers are using their phones to check prices is encouraging and another indicator of the importance of mobile to in-store shopping behaviors.

While many shoppers no doubt are checking prices through various websites accessed by phone, others are using price-checking apps like RedLaser, Amazon Price Check and ShopSavvy.

And some retailers appear to be more cognizant of the price checking apps.

Researching a Bluetooth speaker to buy at Best Buy this week, I scanned a speaker barcode from the box and instantly received a message that Best Buy would discount the speaker $5 to match the price being offered by Amazon.

Several other speakers I scanned showed that Best Buy had either the same or lower prices than its competitors.

The sales associate was initially reluctant to match any prices other than those from Amazon, though in this case, it was the only merchant with a lower price anyway.

At least in the category of these portable speakers, score one for Best Buy.

More consumers are finding that product pricing information is instantly available within only a few taps. Eventually, retailers may see this as well.