That’s not to say consumers aren’t making any purchases. A large share of GlobalWebIndex respondents said they haven’t delayed purchasing any items indicated in the survey as a result of the pandemic. Only a handful said they’re delaying purchases on necessities, including day-to-day items and insurance—an indication that everyday items are still a priority for many.
When asked when they plan to buy the items they have put on hold, a good number of US internet users said they’re waiting for the outbreak to subside, per GlobalWebIndex. Some 15% of respondents said they plan to make those purchases when the outbreak is over in their country; 14% said they’ll do so when the outbreak begins to decrease in their country; and 7% plan to do so when the outbreak is over globally.
The coronavirus is also changing where consumers shop. According to a February 2020 survey from Coresight Research, more consumers are cautious about making purchases, especially in public places like malls and brick-and-mortar stores. Nearly half (47%) of US internet users ages 18 and older said they’re avoiding shopping centers and malls now and if the outbreak worsens; 74.6% of respondents said they’ll avoid those places altogether.