Countries Where Consumers Avoid Stores Due To Coronavirus, 2020

Internet users in specific countries all over the world tend to avoid crowded places due to the coronavirus threat. Instead, they make their purchases using online services.

According to a March 2020 YouGov survey, 85% of internet users in China and 83% of those in Hong Kong said they had avoided crowded public places in the past two weeks. Almost a quarter (27%) of those in the US and 14% in the UK said the same. Also, 76% in Taiwan and 73% in Malaysia said they had avoided crowded public places in the past two weeks. Thailand, Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia are the countries that follow in the list with 70, 68, 67 and 28% of internet users respectively said they avoided public places recently.

A February 2020 Coresight Research survey also showed that 27.5% of US internet users were avoiding public places. But it also indicated that 52.7% would do so if the coronavirus outbreak worsens in the US. Shopping centers and malls were expected to be the most-avoided places, but more than half of respondents said they would also avoid shops in general.

According to Coresight Research published in February 2020, a total 74,6% US internet users were likely to avoid shopping centers/malls if the coronavirus outbreak worsens in the US. People aged from 18 to 29 years old were likely to avoid shopping centers/malls at a rate 67,9% and shops in general at a rate 44,7%. People aged form 30 to 44 years old were likely to avoid shopping centers/ malls at a rate 67,8% and shops in general at a rate 55,5%. Also people aged from 45 to 60 years old were likely to avoid shopping centers/malls at a rate 79,3% and shops in general at a rate 53,8%.

Countries Where Consumers Avoid Stores Due To Coronavirus, 2020

1. China: 85%
2. Hong Kong: 83%
3. Taiwan: 76%
4. Malaysia: 73%
5. Thailand: 70%
6. Singapore: 68%
7. Philippines: 67%
8. Indonesia: 28%
9. US: 27%
10. UK: 14%

More than 8 in 10 (85.6%) respondents aged 60 and older said they were likely to avoid shopping centers and malls. At the same time 61,1% of people aged 60 and older said they were likely to avoid shops in general. That’s not surprising given that COVID-19 has hit older people the hardest, but it may have an unintended consequence on their shopping habits.

These people may be especially likely to alter their behavior and shop online. Ecommerce activity, particularly related to health and grocery, is booming in the US in general. According to data from e-commerce ad tech provider Pacvue, there have been surges in Amazon searches for products like hand sanitizer and antibacterial soap. Digital shoppers are also willing to convert on products that they need with longer delivery windows in order to avoiding going to stores.