Shopping & Dining Consumer Insights

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Shopping

Shopping and dining habits of consumers have changed for many since March 2020, the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic Era in the U.S. In some cases, it was an acceleration of existing trends, but in others it prompted major changes. For many consumers, these habits have at least some level of “stickiness” as they have continued in these habits two years after the start of the pandemic.

Shopping and dining activity are core to many consumer-related industries, from the production of food, beverages, and wide variety of consumer goods to the packaging and shipping of these goods to the construction of the facilities needed. Therefore, an investigation into consumer trends can give insight to marketing and product development opportunities.

This report contains analysis and data-based discussions of various pieces of the home improvement industry, including a look at homeownership rates, buying patterns, demographic trends, and other consumer insights.

This report includes analysis, data, trends, and customized cross tabs using two survey resources:

data from The Freedonia Group’s proprietary national online survey conducted from April-May 2020, August 2020, November-December 2020, February-March 2021, June 2021, August 2021, October-November 2021, November-December 2021, February 2022, and May 2022
data from syndicated national consumer survey results from MRI-Simmons Fall 2011-2021 Reports

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Shopping & Dining Overview

E-Commerce Sales Outlook

Right-Sizing & Shipping Container Optimization

E-Commerce Ready Packaging

Annual Parcels/Packages Shipped

Leading Shipping Companies

Shipping Containers

Foodservice Revenue by Dine-In vs. Off-Premises Dining

Scope

Historical Trends

Forecast

3. COVID-19 Concerns

Concerns about COVID-19 Exposure Remain

Concerns about COVID-19 Exposure from Stores, Restaurants, and Food Manufacturers in 2021

In 2022, Most Consumers Are Still Concerned about COVID-19 Infection from Restaurant or Delivery Staff When Ordering Food for Carryout or Delivery

Most Still Consider the Pandemic a Health Threat Personally or to Family/Friends

Concerns about COVID-19 Variants

Negative Personal Effects of the Pandemic

Negative Effects Reported in 2020 and 2021

Continuing Mental and Physical Health Effects

4. COVID-19 Impacts on Shopping

First Time Use of Online Grocery Shopping and Restaurant Ordering Methods In 2020

Boosted Online Grocery Shopping Activity Continuing Through 2022

In-Store Shopping Patterns

5. COVID-19 Impacts on Dining Out

Most Consumers Are Still Holding off on Dining Out

Increased Use of Food Carryout and Delivery

6. Online Shopping Habits

Online Shopping Habits: By Age

Online Shopping Habits: Rural vs. Urban Settings

Online Shopping Habits: By Income

7. Psychographics

How Do Consumers Feel About Shopping?

Purpose-Driven Shopping

Shopping Around

Shopping Alone

Shopping as an Enjoyable Pursuit

Shopping Motivations

Saving Money

Free Shipping

How Do Consumers Feel About Dining Out?

Celebrations

Fast Food

Dining Out vs. Preparing a Meal

8. Appendix

Related Studies

List of Tables

2. Shopping & Dining Overview

Table 2-1. E-Commerce Sales by Product Category: 2011, 2016, 2021, & 2026 (billion dollars)

Table 2-2. Annual E-Commerce Sales by Product Category: 2018 - 2025 (billion dollars)

Table 2-3. Annual Packages Shipped by Shipper: 2018 - 2021 (million packages)

Table 2-4. Packages Shipped by Shipping Container: 2011, 2016, 2021, & 2026 (million packages & million dollars)

Table 2-5. Annual Packages Shipped by Shipping Container 2018 - 2025 (million packages)

Table 2-6. Foodservice Revenues by Dine-In, Carryout, & Delivery, 2016 - 2021 & 2026 (billion dollars)

3. COVID-19 Concerns

Table 3-1. Coronavirus Health Concerns: "I am concerned about the...", 2020 - 2022 (% of consumers)

Table 3-2. Coronavirus Concerns: "The coronavirus has negatively affected my...", 2020 - 2021 (% of consumers)

Table 3-3. Changes in Mental & Physical Symptoms during the Pandemic, 2022 (% of consumers)

4. COVID-19 Impacts on Shopping

Table 4-1. Coronavirus Food Ordering Habits: "Because of the coronavirus, I have for the first time used...", 2020 (% of consumers)

Table 4-2. Coronavirus Food Purchase Habits: "Because of the coronavirus, I am...", 2020 - 2021 (% of consumers)

6. Online Shopping Habits

Table 6-1. "Do You Shop Online For Home Delivery?" Online Shopping Habits by Age, 2021 (% respondents)

Table 6-2. "Do You Shop Online For Home Delivery?" Online Shopping Habits by Rural vs. Urban Setting, 2021 (% respondents)

Table 6-3. "Do You Shop Online For Home Delivery?" Online Shopping Habits by Household Income Bracket, 2021 (% respondents)

8. Appendix

List of Figures

3. COVID-19 Concerns

Figure 3-1. Concerns about COVID-19 Exposure, 2021 (% of consumers)

Figure 3-2. Concerns about COVID-19 Infection from Restaurant or Delivery Staff, 2022 (% of consumers)

Figure 3-3. COVID-19 Statistics, March 2020 - August 2022 (new cases & deaths)

Figure 3-4. Concerns about the Delta/Omicron Variant & Future Variants of COVID-19, 2021 - 2022 (% of consumers)

4. COVID-19 Impacts on Shopping

Figure 4-1. Grocery Ordering Habits Continue to Be Affected by the Pandemic, 2021 - 2022 (% of consumers)

Figure 4-2. Changes to In-Store Shopping Activity Continue in the Vaccine Era, 2021 - 2022 (% of consumers

5. COVID-19 Impacts on Dining Out

Figure 5-1. Restaurant Eating Habits, 2021 - 2022 (% of consumers

Figure 5-2. Restaurant Habits Continue to Be Affected by the Pandemic, 2021 - 2022 (% of consumers)

7. Psychographics

Figure 7-1. "When shopping, I just get what I need and leave," by Gender, Age, & Generation, 2022 (% respondents who agree somewhat or strongly)

Figure 7-2. "I decide what I want before I go shopping," by Gender, Age, & Generation, 2022 (% respondents who agree somewhat or strongly)

Figure 7-3. "When I shop, I usually visit a variety of stores," by Gender, Age, & Generation, 2022 (% respondents who agree somewhat or strongly)

Figure 7-4. "I like to shop around before making a purchase," by Gender, Age, & Generation, 2022 (% respondents who agree somewhat or strongly)

Figure 7-5. "I prefer to go shopping alone," by Gender, Age, & Generation, 2022 (% respondents who agree somewhat or strongly)

Figure 7-6. "I enjoy shopping, even when I don't make a purchase" by Gender, Age, & Generation, 2022 (% respondents who agree somewhat or strongly)

Figure 7-7. "Shopping is a great way to relax" by Gender, Age, & Generation, 2022 (% respondents who agree somewhat or strongly)

Figure 7-8. "My number one goal when shopping is to save as much money as possible," by Gender, Age, & Generation, 2022 (% respondents who agree somewhat or strongly)

Figure 7-9. "The offer of 'free shipping' attracts me to a shopping website," 2013 - 2022 (% respondents who agree somewhat or strongly)

Figure 7-10. "The offer of 'free shipping' attracts me to a shopping website," by Gender, Age, & Generation, 2022 (% respondents who agree somewhat or strongly)

Figure 7-11. "I typically celebrate special occasions at restaurants," by Gender, Age, & Generation, 2022 (% respondents who agree somewhat or strongly)

Figure 7-12. "Eating at a fast food restaurant is fun," by Gender, Age, & Generation, 2022 (% respondents who agree somewhat or strongly)

Figure 7-13. "I'd rather prepare a meal than eat at a restaurant," by Gender, Age, & Generation, 2022 (% respondents who agree somewhat or strongly