A new round of "stockpiling": What else do Americans want to stockpile besides toilet paper?

Inmar   Intelligence said in a recent research report that among the 1,000 American adults surveyed , 69.4% said they were considering replenishing their current stocks of groceries and other necessities as the spread of the Delta variant virus increases . Among them, 46% have already started stockpiling necessities.

Factors that influence consumers’ stockpiling

About 27.9% of shoppers surveyed said they stockpiled because they were worried about the outbreak worsening and not being able to go to the store. Other reasons that prompted consumers to stockpile included price increases (18.1%), current shortages (19.1%), and the possibility that the products they wanted might not be available when they needed them ( 30.9 %).

Some retailers, such as Costco , have reinstated purchasing limits on certain products , and nearly three-quarters (74.7%) of respondents said they are currently experiencing product shortages when shopping.

Inmar's survey shows that media coverage of the epidemic and other current events ( price increases, natural disasters, etc.) has prompted many Americans to stock up on food and key supplies. Half of the respondents said that media coverage "completely influenced" their stockpiling decisions, while 34.6% of respondents said that the news "influenced" their stockpiling decisions "to some extent." Consumers also said that social media posts ( 34.8 %) would also influence their stockpiling decisions .

Therefore, sellers can also pay more attention to current news and social media in the United States to understand the product categories that American consumers are more concerned about during this "stockpiling boom."

Items that consumers plan to or have stockpiled

Among the products that consumers have stockpiled or plan to stockpile , the most frequently mentioned items include toilet paper ( 72.1%), hand sanitizer (62%), paper towels (54.6%), soap (50.4%), and disinfectant wipes (49.7%). In addition, canned food (46%), medical supplies (44.3%), paper towels (41.3%), pet care (36.8%), pasta (34.1%), beer/wine/liquor (22.8%), and baby care products (18%).

When it comes to buying stockpiled products, consumers are almost equally likely to choose to go to a store (46.4%) or shop online (46.6%) , with about 21% of online shoppers planning to use curbside service.

Inmar senior vice president Pavlika said that while the arrival of COVID vaccines and the easing of restrictions have led to more consumers and slowed online sales growth, the epidemic has reinforced shoppers' omnichannel thinking.

“The spread of the Delta variant is likely to impact shopper behavior in areas that have been more impacted by the outbreak,” Pavlika added. “ Online grocery sales are likely to see an increase due to the uncertainty . ”

toilet paper

Stockpiling

USA