COVID-19 is changing businesses everywhere as many states implemented stay-at-home orders and temporarily closed “non-essential” businesses earlier this year. Not only are customers shopping online more, but their shopping behaviors have dramatically shifted. While it’s clear consumers purchased face masks, disposable gloves and hand sanitizer, they’re also buying several more items for their home during isolation.

The graphic shows the top declining items on the left and top growing items on the right between March 2019 and March 2020. According to Stackline, the top growing categories are disposable gloves, bread machines and cough and cold syrup. The top declining categories include luggage and suitcases, briefcases and cameras with most travel halted. During this questionable time, consumer shopping behavior has moved to address the additional time spent at home.

Maggie Stout can be reached at maggie.stout@stthomas.edu.