How Coronavirus Lockdowns Changed Our Lives

Pre-Covid
At the beginning of the year, U.S. unemployment was low and stock markets were high. The global airline industry was projecting its 11th straight year of profits. The U.S. restaurant industry expected a 4% increase in annual revenue to a record $899 billion, mirroring the strong economy.

Day trading
As the market crashed in March with news of the coronavirus people started spending more time and money on day-trading sites. This year more than 3 million people set up accounts on Robinhood. Overall, spending on brokerage apps like Robinhood, TD Ameritrade and Charles Schwab increased an average 65%, compared with 2019 with customers spending some $770 a month.

Alcohol
With most bars temporarily closed, people started mixing cocktails or drinking at home. U.S. retail alcohol sales increased by 71.3% in April, when the monthly average spending peaked at $74 per consumer. Since March alcohol sales increased on average by 58%, compared with last year.

Food delivery
Spending on food delivery doubled compared with 2019, boosting companies like GrubHub and DoorDash. May had the highest average with $36 per person. The biggest jump came in July with 160% growth from the previous year. By December, DoorDash was a public company worth $50 billion.

Home furnishings
More time at home prompted people to set up home offices, school desks and outdoor gathering spaces. Average monthly spending per person on home furnishings rose 43% to $260 in May. As the pandemic dragged on many kept buying furniture and the category increased 36% in September, compared with 2019.

Home fitness
With many gyms closed, spending at fitness clubs dropped by an average 42% compared with last year. Purchases of home fitness products from brands like Peloton, Mirror and NordicTrack more than doubled for the same period. Spending shot up by an average 123% in 2020 and peaked in September when average monthly spending reached $118 per person.

Streaming services
Starting in March, purchases at ticketing websites like Ticketmaster dropped by 81% and movie theaters had a 93% decline, compared with last year. An October survey showed that consumers are now paying for seven different video streaming services like Netflix, up from five in April. Spending on gaming platforms such as Twitch, PlayStation or Xbox also rose by 37%.

Travel
Average spending on air travel was half what it was last year, while overall spending on hotel accommodations dropped by an average 32%. Spending at online travel agencies like Expedia dropped 52%. Those that did stay in hotels paid more: an average of $242, about 30% more than in 2019.

Face masks
Online marketplace Etsy reported merchants on its platform sold some 24 million face masks during the September quarter, about $289 million. Gap said it made around $130 million during the second quarter in mask sales across all of its brands.

Arts and Crafts
With more free time for crafting, spending at stores like Hobby Lobby and Michaels grew an average 24% starting in May. The holidays led to the highest individual spending in the arts and crafts category, reaching $48.50 for November, a 17% increase from 2019.