Google Shopping changes local inventory defaults and controls

What changed

Arpan Banerjee shared a Google Ads notice about local inventory settings in Shopping campaigns. The notice says local inventory ads become enabled by default for the affected setup, and that the older Local products setting is being removed. It directs advertisers to the Inventory filter and the Channel value, Local or Online, to control the inventory used by a campaign.

The audience for the email is specific: manager accounts with Shopping campaigns connected to a Merchant Center account where the local inventory ads add-on is enabled. This is not evidence that every online-only retailer suddenly has local ads running. Start by checking the linked Merchant Center setup and the account notice, then inspect the campaign’s actual filter rather than relying on the old setting’s position in the interface.

The email asked advertisers to review separate online and local budgets before 31 August 2026. That date has passed, so the practical follow-up is now to confirm the resulting configuration and delivery. A retailer that intends different spending plans for store visits and online purchases should verify that its campaign filters still express that distinction. Keep a record of any changes already made by the team.

Why it matters for advertisers

Local availability creates a different customer promise from a product that can only be ordered online. Review whether the advertised stock, store opening hours and collection journey are accurate before evaluating additional local exposure. In reporting, separate the intended outcome of each campaign and examine whether spend has shifted between them. A default-setting change can alter the inventory mix even when the overall budget looks familiar.