Consumer demand for key products is rising well into three-digit growth rates compared to 2019.
According to Nielsen total US dollar sales data, sales of some items in the health/safety/cleaning, food, beverages, pet, and beauty products categories for the one- and four-week periods ending Saturday, 21 March, 2020, are up dramatically year-over-year.
Bath tissue (toilet paper) sales were up 123.5 per cent for the one-week period ending 21 March, 2020 compared to the same week the previous year and rose 98.9 per cent compared to the prior four-week period. Bath and shower wipes climbed 145 per cent for the one-week period and 151.5 per cent compared to the previous four-week period. Sales of cold & flu remedies increased 192.2 per cent for the one-week period and 100.4 per cent for the four-week period.
Dried beans proved a popular food item, increasing 377 per cent year-over-year for the one-week period ending 21 March, 2020, and 169.1 per cent for four-week period. Other easily prepared food products with a long shelf life were also big sellers. For example, rice: sales grew 234.1 per cent for the one-week period and 117.6 per cent for the four-week period. Shelf-stable tuna sales grew 245.6 per cent for the one-week period and 109.7 per cent during the four-week period.
However, sales of perishable spiral hams, which are also a traditional meal for the upcoming Easter holiday (April 12), shot up 622.1 per cent year-over-year for the one-week period ending March 21, 2020, and 161.8 per cent for the four-year period. Easter did not occur until April 21 in 2019.
Orange juice sales rose 73.2 per cent for the one-week period ending 21 March, 2020, year-over-year and 28% compared to the prior four-week period. Packaged coffee showed nearly identical patterns with 73.3 per cent growth over the one-week period and 28 per cent gain over the four-week period.
