Consumption patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

This research is aimed to discover how people’s buying habits changed during the COVID-19 epidemic and what variables drove consumption expenditure in India. Additionally, the study wanted to establish what factors influenced consumption expenditure in India. Consumption expenditure was shown to have declined all the way through the pandemic in the research that was conducted, which was based on one hundred survey data samples that were obtained in 2021 and 2022. When compared to levels preceding the outbreak, the amount of money spent on housing, food, and drinks did not significantly change. On the other hand, throughout the course of the previous several years, fewer dollars have been spent on things like clothes, entertainment, and education. It was shown that age, the number of members in a family, and the income of the household all had substantial influence on changes in spending. During the course of the epidemic, residents found that making purchases online became an essential supplementary method of buying. It is anticipated that this tendency will continue even after the virus has been contained. In order to provide a concise summary of the suggestions in light of the results, we have made two points. First and foremost, young people who are not married are the primary group that is responsible for the recovery of consumer spending in a variety of industries, including but not limited to fashion, leisure, education, and public transportation. In the meantime, the Government needs to enact legislation that will enhance the general quality of the products and services that are accessible for consumers to purchase online.