DIpil Das
Coresight Research surveyed US consumers about the impact of the coronavirus on their behavior on March 17–18, 2020.
The findings suggest US consumers are worried, including many for their own jobs and incomes, and are likely to batten down the hatches for the long haul. A significant proportion expect to come out the other side with changed behaviors.
Worries About the Coronavirus and Jobs or Income
A total of 79% of respondents are somewhat or extremely concerned about the coronavirus, with more than one third extremely concerned. Just 5% show no concern.
[caption id="attachment_105758" align="aligncenter" width="700"]
Base: 1,152 US Internet users aged 18 and above
Source: Coresight Research [/caption] We asked respondents to choose from a selection of statements related to employment and income. Some 4.2% said that they had already lost their job because of the coronavirus outbreak, with a further 12.7% worried they would lose their job. However, a much more widespread worry was losing part of their income, such as through reduced hours—with one-third concerned about this. The extent of these worries underscores the economic retrenchment we could see from shoppers cutting spending out of fear. [caption id="attachment_105759" align="aligncenter" width="700"]
Base: 1,152 US Internet users aged 18 and above
Source: Coresight Research [/caption] Changing Behaviors Fully 84.5% of respondents now avoid public areas or travel, up from just 27.5% when we surveyed consumers one month earlier. Shopping centers/malls are the third most avoided. Shops in general are significantly less avoided—reflecting that malls are weighted toward discretionary retail and that nondiscretionary stores such as grocery stores and drugstores tend to be in off-mall locations. The leisure industry is seeing mass avoidance across spaces such as movie theaters, food service and sports centers. [caption id="attachment_105760" align="aligncenter" width="700"]
Base: 1,152 US Internet users aged 18 and above
Source: Coresight Research [/caption] Nobody yet knows if the changes wrought by the coronavirus will lead to long-term shifts in the way consumers behave. So, we asked them—and close to half of respondents expect to retain changed behaviors after the outbreak ends. Read the full report to discover what behaviors respondents expected to retain. [caption id="attachment_105761" align="aligncenter" width="700"]
Base: 1,152 US Internet users aged 18 and above
Source: Coresight Research[/caption]
Base: 1,152 US Internet users aged 18 and above Source: Coresight Research [/caption] We asked respondents to choose from a selection of statements related to employment and income. Some 4.2% said that they had already lost their job because of the coronavirus outbreak, with a further 12.7% worried they would lose their job. However, a much more widespread worry was losing part of their income, such as through reduced hours—with one-third concerned about this. The extent of these worries underscores the economic retrenchment we could see from shoppers cutting spending out of fear. [caption id="attachment_105759" align="aligncenter" width="700"]
Base: 1,152 US Internet users aged 18 and above Source: Coresight Research [/caption] Changing Behaviors Fully 84.5% of respondents now avoid public areas or travel, up from just 27.5% when we surveyed consumers one month earlier. Shopping centers/malls are the third most avoided. Shops in general are significantly less avoided—reflecting that malls are weighted toward discretionary retail and that nondiscretionary stores such as grocery stores and drugstores tend to be in off-mall locations. The leisure industry is seeing mass avoidance across spaces such as movie theaters, food service and sports centers. [caption id="attachment_105760" align="aligncenter" width="700"]
Base: 1,152 US Internet users aged 18 and above Source: Coresight Research [/caption] Nobody yet knows if the changes wrought by the coronavirus will lead to long-term shifts in the way consumers behave. So, we asked them—and close to half of respondents expect to retain changed behaviors after the outbreak ends. Read the full report to discover what behaviors respondents expected to retain. [caption id="attachment_105761" align="aligncenter" width="700"]
Base: 1,152 US Internet users aged 18 and above Source: Coresight Research[/caption]