Entertainment, booze account for most 'non-essential' spending during crisis

Experts report many use online shopping to ease stress. (Science News photo)

About 58 million Americans are spending more money while social distancing, according to WalletHub's Coronavirus Shopping Survey, released last week. This nationally representative survey asked a range of questions, from whether Americans' spending has increased to what types of non-essential items they are purchasing most and whether they have concerns about deliveries of packages and food. Below are additional highlights of the survey, along with a WalletHub Q&A.

Key Stats

• Some Americans are shopping more during the pandemic: 58 million Americans are spending more money while social distancing.
• Many people use shopping to ease stress: 43 percent of Americans have participated in "comfort buying" due to social isolation.
• Deliveries cause anxiety: 57 percent of Americans are concerned about package safety while comfort buying.
• People worry about food contamination: 60 percent of Americans are concerned about the safety of having food delivered during the pandemic.
• People use entertainment and drinking to take the edge off: Americans are spending the most "non-essential" money on entertainment (29 percent) and alcohol (23 percent) right now.

The complete survey results can be found at https://wallethub.com/blog/coronavirus-shopping-survey/73706/.