How Coronavirus Has Changed What Americans Are Buying

The coronavirus has undoubtedly changed the way we live. From social distancing to lockdowns, we have been forced to adapt to a new lifestyle and this has impacted consumer behavior, which was analyzed by 24/7 Wall St. in a recent report. Here we take a look at how the buying habits of Americans have changed, using a year-over-year comparison through the end of March:

1. Milk

Change in sales: 47.5% increase
What it means: Three more glasses of milk weekly per capita

Before the coronavirus pandemic, the average American consumed roughly five cups of milk per week. This number has jumped to about eight cups a week.

2. McDonald's

Change in sales: 13.4% decline
What it means: Six fewer hamburgers per fast food fan annually

Americans consume an average of 4 billion quarter-pounder hamburgers every year, which means fast food junkies consume roughly 44 quarter-pounder sandwiches per year. With a reported 13.4% decline in McDonalds sales, this equates to about six fewer quarter pounder hamburgers per person.

3. Walmart

Change in sales: 20% increase
What it means: 2.6 more visits to Walmart per American annually

Shoppers rushing to stock up on necessary items have increased Walmart sales by 20%. This means that Americans will shop at Walmart 15.6 times per year, up from 13 visits per year.

4. Video games

Change in sales: 65% increase
What it means: Five new video games purchased per gamer

Americans confined to their homes are turning to video games for entertainment. In mid-March, consumer spending on video games jumped 65% from the same period last year. It is estimated that, of the 164 million adults playing video games in the U.S., roughly eight games are sold per person per year. Now they are purchasing five additional new games.

5. Gasoline

Change in sales: 30% decline
What it means: 10 fewer trips to the pump each year

Lockdown means Americans are traveling far less, which translates to less demand for gasoline. It is estimated that the average American makes 31 trips to the pump per year, but by the end of March this decreased by 10 trips.

6. Puzzles

Change in sales: 370% increase
What it means: Puzzle lovers are doing four more puzzles than usual annually

Bored Americans holed up in their homes are keeping busy with jigsaw puzzles. It was reported that half of American adults completed around one jigsaw puzzle per year, but now they are doing almost five puzzles per year.

7. Beer

Change in sales: 42% increase
What it means: Six more pints per week among beer drinkers

Americans who prefer beer consume roughly 14 pints of beer a week, but now adults are drinking six additional pints, which equates to a total of 20 pints per week.

8. Fitness equipment

Change in sales: 535% increase
What it means: $170 more in home fitness equipment spending per household

Each year, Americans spend $3.86 billion on home fitness equipment, which is roughly $32 per household, but online sales have spiked to $24.51 billion, or $202 per American household.

9. Airline tickets

Change in sales: 96% decline
What it means: About three fewer flights per person annually on average

Nearly 986 million airline tickets are sold per year, which is three per American, but with a 96% decline that number now sits at 0.1 tickets.

10. Frozen cookie dough

Change in sales: 454% increase
What it means: 1,094 more cookies eaten per person in 2020

Americans are eating a lot more cookie dough since the coronavirus epidemic struck. Sales have increased by 454%. It has been estimated that Americans consume an average of 18,928 cookies over the course of their lifetime, but now they will eat roughly 104,681 cookies.

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