As we entered 2020, Americans likely had a collection of varying items on their docket to complete, experience and enjoy throughout the year. However, as news reports continued to highlight the spread of the novel coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China, things quickly began to change. Months removed from the first public reports, COVID-19 has become a pandemic that’s touched every continent except Antarctica.
In the United States, the first reported case emerged in late January. In the weeks that followed, media reports began highlighting spreads to various locations. Yet, consumer behavior remained largely unchanged. It wasn’t until late February or early March that the marketplace began to see a shift in consumer purchasing behaviors.