While concern about being in public spaces has declined and Americans grow more comfortable resuming activities like traveling, shopping, and eating at restaurants, the current economic state continues to put a strain on people’s wallets. Concerns surrounding inflation remain at a high, and nearly all (96%) of Americans are now concerned about high gas prices.
How are growing financial concerns impacting Americans’ ability to meet their basic needs? We see the impact of strain in everyday behaviors such as purchasing groceries, as well as the ability to access healthcare. Rising prices have caused a growing number of people to report that they’ve been unable to afford to see a doctor, even though they needed to.
Similarly, one-in-five adults report they couldn’t get prescription medications they needed due to cost over the past 12 months.
The doctor’s office is not the only place where people are feeling financial strain. An all-time high of three-quarters of grocery shoppers have recently forgone buying something at the store due to high prices.
And shoppers are increasingly looking to cut costs. Coupon usage is on the rise with a growing 29% reporting utilizing this discount method. The majority of grocery shoppers continue to search for sale items or select store brand items over name brands.
In the coming weeks, will we continue to see a shift in access to basic necessities as economic concerns grow? CivicScience continually monitors consumer comfortability and economic sentiment to keep you updated on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Check back in weekly for new insights.
