Shopping & Dining Consumer Insights
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 shopping and dining trends, including a look at COVID-19 pandemic concerns and wellness impacts, attitudes about shopping and dining, demographic trends in e-commerce activity, 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 Spring 2012-2022 Reports
- age group
- generation
- urban/suburban/rural location
- income
This study examines consumer insights and trends in the US market for shopping and dining out habits and attitudes about shopping and dining, in general. Survey data capture insights between 2020 and 2022 as well as display historical trends and forecasts in e-commerce shopping and foodservice spending (dine-in, carryout, and delivery).
- Introduction
- Shopping & Dining Overview
- E-Commerce Sales Outlook
- Table E-Commerce Sales by Product Category: 2011, 2016, 2021, &2026
- Table Annual E-Commerce Sales by Product Category: 2018 – 2025
- Right-Sizing & Shipping Container Optimization
- E-Commerce Ready Packaging
- Annual Parcels/Packages Shipped
- Leading Shipping Companies
- Table Annual Packages Shipped by Shipper: 2018 – 2021
- Shipping Containers
- Table Packages Shipped by Shipping Container: 2011, 2016, 2021, &2026
- Table Annual Packages Shipped by Shipping Container 2018 – 2025
- Leading Shipping Companies
- Foodservice Revenue by Dine-In vs. Off-Premises Dining
- Scope
- Historical Trends
- Forecast
- Table Foodservice Revenues by Dine-In, Carryout, &Delivery, 2016 – 2021 & 2026
- E-Commerce Sales Outlook
- COVID-19 Concerns
- Concerns about COVID-19 Exposure Remain
- Concerns about COVID-19 Exposure from Stores, Restaurants, and Food Manufacturers in 2021
- Table Figure 3-1. Concerns about COVID-19 Exposure, 2021
- In 2022, Most Consumers Are Still Concerned about COVID-19 Infection from Restaurant or Delivery Staff When Ordering Food for Carryout or Delivery
- Table Figure 3-2. Concerns about COVID-19 Infection from Restaurant or Delivery Staff, 2022
- Most Still Consider the Pandemic a Health Threat Personally or to Family/Friends
- Table Coronavirus Health Concerns: “I am concerned about the…”, 2020 – 2022
- Table Figure 3-3. COVID-19 Statistics, March 2020 – August 2022
- Concerns about COVID-19 Variants
- Table Figure 3-4. Concerns about the Delta/Omicron Variant & Future Variants of COVID-19, 2021 – 2022
- Concerns about COVID-19 Exposure from Stores, Restaurants, and Food Manufacturers in 2021
- Negative Personal Effects of the Pandemic
- Negative Effects Reported in 2020 and 2021
- Table Coronavirus Concerns: “The coronavirus has negatively affected my…”, 2020 – 2021
- Continuing Mental and Physical Health Effects
- Table Changes in Mental & Physical Symptoms during the Pandemic, 2022
- Negative Effects Reported in 2020 and 2021
- Concerns about COVID-19 Exposure Remain
- COVID-19 Impacts on Shopping
- First Time Use of Online Grocery Shopping and Restaurant Ordering Methods In 2020
- Table Coronavirus Food Ordering Habits: “Because of the coronavirus, I have for the first time used…”, 2020
- Boosted Online Grocery Shopping Activity Continuing Through 2022
- Table Coronavirus Food Purchase Habits: “Because of the coronavirus, I am…”, 2020 – 2021
- Table Figure 4-1. Grocery Ordering Habits Continue to Be Affected by the Pandemic, 2021 – 2022
- In-Store Shopping Patterns
- Table Figure 4-2. Changes to In-Store Shopping Activity Continue in the Vaccine Era, 2021 – 2022
- First Time Use of Online Grocery Shopping and Restaurant Ordering Methods In 2020
- COVID-19 Impacts on Dining Out
- Most Consumers Are Still Holding off on Dining Out
- Table Figure 5-1. Restaurant Eating Habits, 2021 – 2022
- Increased Use of Food Carryout and Delivery
- Table Figure 5-2. Restaurant Habits Continue to Be Affected by the Pandemic, 2021 – 2022
- Most Consumers Are Still Holding off on Dining Out
- Online Shopping Habits
- Online Shopping Habits: By Age
- Table “Do You Shop Online For Home Delivery?” Online Shopping Habits by Age, 2021
- Online Shopping Habits: Rural vs. Urban Settings
- Table “Do You Shop Online For Home Delivery?” Online Shopping Habits by Rural vs. Urban Setting, 2021
- Online Shopping Habits: By Income
- Table “Do You Shop Online For Home Delivery?” Online Shopping Habits by Household Income Bracket, 2021
- Online Shopping Habits: By Age
- Psychographics
- How Do Consumers Feel About Shopping?
- Purpose-Driven Shopping
- Table Figure 7-1. “When shopping, I just get what I need and leave,” by Gender, Age, &Generation, 2022
- Table Figure 7-2. “I decide what I want before I go shopping,” by Gender, Age, &Generation, 2022
- Shopping Around
- Table Figure 7-3. “When I shop, I usually visit a variety of stores,” by Gender, Age, &Generation, 2022
- Table Figure 7-4. “I like to shop around before making a purchase,” by Gender, Age, &Generation, 2022
- Shopping Alone
- Table Figure 7-5. “I prefer to go shopping alone,” by Gender, Age, &Generation, 2022
- Shopping as an Enjoyable Pursuit
- Table Figure 7-6. “I enjoy shopping, even when I don’t make a purchase” by Gender, Age, &Generation, 2022
- Table Figure 7-7. “Shopping is a great way to relax” by Gender, Age, &Generation, 2022
- Shopping Motivations
- Table Figure 7-8. “My number one goal when shopping is to save as much money as possible,” by Gender, Age, &Generation, 2022
- Table Figure 7-9. “The offer of ‘free shipping’ attracts me to a shopping website,” 2013 – 2022
- Table Figure 7-10. “The offer of ‘free shipping’ attracts me to a shopping website,” by Gender, Age, &Generation, 2022
- Purpose-Driven Shopping
- How Do Consumers Feel About Dining Out?
- Celebrations
- Table Figure 7-11. “I typically celebrate special occasions at restaurants,” by Gender, Age, &Generation, 2022
- Fast Food
- Table Figure 7-12. “Eating at a fast food restaurant is fun,” by Gender, Age, &Generation, 2022
- Dining Out vs. Preparing a Meal
- Table Figure 7-13. “I'd rather prepare a meal than eat at a restaurant,” by Gender, Age, &Generation, 2022
- Celebrations
- How Do Consumers Feel About Shopping?
- Appendix
- Related Studies
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