The pandemic has had a lasting impact on businesses throughout the country. In particular, the service industry has been hit hard by many of the changes that have come along with COVID. Consumers have felt these changes as well, as stores and restaurants struggle to hire staff and stay open pre-COVID hours.
According to new CivicScience data, consumers most notably observe the results of staffing shortages at restaurants. Seventy percent of Americans indicate they believe restaurants are experiencing more staffing shortages than usual, followed by retail stores (47%), and pharmacies and doctor’s offices (23% each).
Staffing issues are also causing more customers to run into more problems in-store and online. Eighty percent of adults have noted issues as a result of staffing shortages. Forty-five percent of U.S. adults have experienced longer wait times at restaurants, and nearly the same amount have longer hold times on customer service calls (44%).
As businesses work to manage staffing shortages, Americans have started to tighten their wallets once again. Over 60% of U.S. adults say they’ve become more price sensitive over the past 12 months. This is the highest level we’ve seen since the start of the pandemic.
Check in weekly for updates on consumer spending and trends as COVID, inflation, supply chain disruptions, workforce dynamics, and the war in Ukraine evolve
