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How did Covid-19 impact US household foods? an analysis six months in

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  • Kuan-Ming Huang
  • Ana Claudia Sant’Anna
  • Xiaoli Etienne

Abstract

Using a nationwide survey of primary grocery shoppers conducted in August 2020, we examine household food spending when the economy had partially reopened and consumers had different spending opportunities in comparison to when the Covid-19 lockdown began. We estimate the impact of Covid-19 on household spending using interval and Order Probit regressions. Income levels, age, access to grocery stores and farmers markets, household demographic information, along with other independent variables are controlled in the model. Findings show that middle-class households (with income below $50,000, or with income between $50,000 and $99,999) are less likely to increase their grocery expenditures during the pandemic. Households with children or elderlies that usually require higher food quality and nutrition intakes had a higher probability of increasing their spending during Covid-19 than before. Furthermore, consumers’ spending behaviors were also significantly affected by their safe handing levels and the Covid-19 severity and food accessibility in their residences.

Suggested Citation

  • Kuan-Ming Huang & Ana Claudia Sant’Anna & Xiaoli Etienne, 2021. "How did Covid-19 impact US household foods? an analysis six months in," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(9), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0256921
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256921
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    Cited by:

    1. Y. Zhao & C. Huang & J. Luo, 2022. "How to Prepare for the Next Pandemic -- Investigation of Correlation Between Food Prices and COVID-19 From Global and Local Perspectives," Papers 2211.15515, arXiv.org.

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