It’s been 100 weeks since CivicScience began tracking COVID-19’s impact on consumers; at that point in March 2020 it was just deemed ‘coronavirus’.
In the most recent week of data, consumer comfort increased in all activities CivicScience measures. The highest increase in comfort was seen for traveling (45%. +4pp), followed by going back to work (67%, +3pp). However, despite Omicron’s continued retreat in case numbers in most of the nation, the figure of those concerned held strong.
While comfort venturing out may be starting to slightly improve, supply chain issues continue to rear their ugly heads.
The dataset is showing that an increasing percentage of adults are shopping in stores less than they typically would this time of year.
You’d think that people are just turning to the web to buy goods instead, but the data is showing otherwise. Though more people are hitting stores less for this time of year, online shopping is starting to decline as well. Since the holidays, more people are reporting shopping online less than they typically would.
The changes observed in shopping behavior may have something to do with people’s continued concern over supply chain issues (or simply an inability to buy what they’re looking for). Eighty-four percent report feeling at least somewhat concerned about it.
What’s more, since early December, an increasing percentage of people have experienced difficulties purchasing items due to product shortages / supply chain issues (up seven percentage points).
Nearly half (46%) of the general adult population reports they’ve been buying less than they normally would because of supply chain issues (about a third of which report buying a lot less).
Those who have experienced supply chain issues while shopping are much more likely to say they have been buying less than they normally would because of it.
With no end in sight to supply chain issues, CivicScience will continue to track the impact on consumer behavior in retail and beyond.
