Nielsen 10 mar - key-consumer_behavior_thresholds_identified_as_the_coronavirus - en
1. 3/21/2020 Key Consumer Behavior Thresholds Identified as the Coronavirus Outbreak Evolves – Nielsen
https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/article/2020/key-consumer-behavior-thresholds-identified-as-the-coronavirus-outbreak-evolves/ 1/7
ARTICLE
KEY CONSUMER BEHAVIOR THRESHOLDS IDENTIFIED AS THE
CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK EVOLVES
CPG, FMCG & RETAIL 03-10-2020
A Nielsen investigation has identi ed six key consumer behavior threshold levels that tie directly to concerns around the novel coronavirus
(COVID-19) outbreak. The thresholds o er early signals of spending patterns, particularly for emergency pantry items and health supplies,
and we are seeing these patterns being mirrored across multiple markets.
Correlating COVID-19 news events, such as public health announcements and government press conferences with consumer spending on
items such as hand sanitizers and shelf-stable foods, reveals a series of recurring patterns. These patterns (though still evolving), when
reviewed across impacted countries, help provide a set of leading indicators for packaged goods manufacturers and retailers faced with
supply issues as they race to meet record levels of demand and changing purchase habits.
It has been over eight weeks since China con rmed its rst case of COVID-19 and the outbreak began to spread globally. In that time, Nielsen
has recorded record-breaking sales of health-safety products, such as medical masks and sanitizers, but we’ve also seen a ripple e ect
triggering broader consumer purchase behaviors as the number of reported COVID-19 cases increase around the world.
The six threshold levels, based on early indicators across markets (though at di erent times as the virus outbreak evolves at di erent rates in
di erent geographies), are detailed below. Each one correlates with di erent levels of consumption, but there are some common timing
elements, which are primarily driven by news cycles.
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