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Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year

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The pig in the python: Baby Boomers are strangling the economy they built by refusing to move or retire

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Uber CEO says rideshare 'freed up' his son from having to get a driver’s license—and he's one of many Gen Zers who aren’t willing to drive
FinanceRetail

Exclusive: 1 in 3 Americans were already stocking up on supplies before coronavirus was ruled a pandemic

By
Lance Lambert
Lance Lambert
Former Real Estate Editor
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By
Lance Lambert
Lance Lambert
Former Real Estate Editor
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 13, 2020, 4:15 PM ET

Subscribe to Fortune’s Outbreak newsletter for a daily roundup of stories on the coronavirus outbreak and its impact on global business.

Supermarkets across the country are reporting long lines as Americans rush to stock up on everything from toilet paper to frozen food to medicine following the World Health Organization ruling coronavirus a pandemic on Wednesday and closures of everything from professional sports leagues to some K-12 school systems.

But some shoppers were already stocking up before this rush. A total of 34% of Americans were purchasing slightly more (18%) or significantly more (16%) last week as a result of coronavirus fears, according to a survey conducted by Civis Analytics, a Chicago-based data science software firm. The survey was conducted among 1,951 Americans between March 4 to 6 and shared exclusively with Fortune.

And last week many Americans were already finding some common household supplies out-of-stock. The products that shoppers reported being out-of-stock include hand sanitizer (20%), bottled water (15%), mask/filtering respirator (13%), and antiseptic wipes (12%).

While industries like airlines and cruise lines are already seeing negative impacts from the virus, supermarket chains could actually see a short-term boost. Last week, Costco attributed a February sales boost to Coronavirus-concerned shoppers. 

The survey was weighted to match the U.S. adult population on age, education, ethnicity, gender, and race. Civis plans to repeat the survey weekly, with the next poll being released next week.

More must-read stories from Fortune:

—Is this your first stock market crash? Some advice for young investors
—Here are two of the biggest losers from the Saudi Arabia oil price war
—Why investors suddenly turned on pot stocks
—Here are some of the most extreme ways companies are combating coronavirus
—Why it’s so hard to find the next Warby Parker

Subscribe to Fortune’s Bull Sheet for no-nonsense finance news and analysis daily.

About the Author
By Lance LambertFormer Real Estate Editor
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Lance Lambert is a former Fortune editor who contributes to the Fortune Analytics newsletter.

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