Abstract
Using a nationwide survey of primary grocery shoppers conducted in August 2020, we examine household food spending when the economy had partially reopened and consumers had different spending opportunities in comparison to when the Covid-19 lockdown began. We estimate the impact of Covid-19 on household spending using interval and Order Probit regressions. Income levels, age, access to grocery stores and farmers markets, household demographic information, along with other independent variables are controlled in the model. Findings show that middle-class households (with income below $50,000, or with income between $50,000 and $99,999) are less likely to increase their grocery expenditures during the pandemic. Households with children or elderlies that usually require higher food quality and nutrition intakes had a higher probability of increasing their spending during Covid-19 than before. Furthermore, consumers’ spending behaviors were also significantly affected by their safe handing levels and the Covid-19 severity and food accessibility in their residences.
Highlights
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused enormous disruptions to the global economy
Given the changes in the economic conditions, expirations of government assistance programs, and potential changes in food systems, it is essential to conduct a study focusing on consumers’ shopping behaviors and identifying the vulnerable groups in later stages of the pandemic, when most enhanced benefits packages expired. We contribute to this necessity by surveying household primary shoppers in August about their spending trends during and prior to Covid-19
We investigate how Covid-19 has affected US household grocery spending behavior, in particular fresh produce and local food purchase and the factors driving such changes
Summary
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused enormous disruptions to the global economy. At the beginning of the pandemic, concerns about food shortage led to panic buying as consumers stocked up on groceries [1,2,3]. Using a nationwide survey on 514 primary grocery shoppers, we record household spending on food grocery and fresh produce in dollar amount, and the percentage of locally grown fresh produce purchased before and six months after Covid-19 was declared as a pandemic (i.e., August 2020).
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