Consumer Behavior

COVID-19 re-openings bring sales growth

Photo by istock.com

May 14, 2020

Retailers opening after months of being shuttered are seeing local sales growth, especially in Florida and Texas.

Small business spend in those states, as well as California and Georgia, enjoyed a 18% increase in sales compared to the prior week. Yet sales are down 63% compared to a year ago, according to a Fivestars report.

The report analyzed sales and food traffic data points the week of May 7, according to a press release.

"In the past two weeks alone, the increase in local merchant sales is encouraging," said Victor Ho, founder and CEO of Fivestars, in the release. "But still, they’ll need thousands of dollars to make up for lost business. Right now, we need to come together as a community to help local merchants weather this storm, by intentionally choosing to shop at local businesses when we feel safe to."

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