ABSTRACT

The global COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented event impacting the lives of almost every human in the world.  In order to help slow the spread, many countries initiated lockdowns, including temporary closure of businesses and requiring people to stay at home.  The United States was one of these countries with forty-two states and territories implementing mandatory shelter-in-place orders by May 31, 2020 (Moreland et al., 2020).  These lockdowns triggered a significant disruption in consumer behavior resulting in supply shock and changes in consumer spending. With COVID-19 vaccines on the horizon, there is an end in sight with the pandemic, but what about consumer behaviors and spending? I explored current literature to understand how consumer spending may change post-COVID-19 and how that may impact the U.S. economy. The current literature supports the following conclusions: (a) consumers will continue to spend as long as unemployment does not become permanent, (b) consumer consumption and sentiment decline is likely temporary, (c) changes in consumer priorities and spending behavior are likely to be permanent, and (d) there will be new consumer segments going forward.

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DATE

December 2020

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CITATION

Birdsall, N. L. (2020). U.S. Consumers Spend After the COVID-19 Pandemic. Doctoral Literature Review. Golden Gate University.