Nielsen: Sales are skyrocketing in these categories due to COVID-19

Consumer demand for key products is rising well into three-digit growth rates compared to 2019.

According to Nielsen total U.S. dollar sales data, sales of some items in the health/safety/cleaning, food, beverages, pet, and beauty products categories for the one- and four-week periods ending Saturday, March 21, 2020, are up dramatically year-over-year. Following are some highlights from each category:

Health, safety & cleaning products
Bath tissue (toilet paper) sales were up 123.5% for the one-week period ending March 21, 2020 compared to the same week the previous year and rose 98.9% compared to the prior four-week period. Bath and shower wipes climbed 145% for the one-week period and 151.5% compared to the previous four-week period.

Sales of cold & flu remedies increased 192.2% for the one-week period and 100.4% for the four-week period.

Food
Dried beans proved a popular food item, increasing 377% year-over-year for the one-week period ending March 21, 2020, and 169.1% for four-week period. Other easily prepared food products with a long shelf life were also big sellers. For example, rice: sales grew 234.1% for the one-week period and 117.6% for the four-week period. Shelf-stable tuna sales grew 245.6% for the one-week period and 109.7% during the four-week period.

However, sales of perishable spiral hams, which are also a traditional meal for the upcoming Easter holiday (April 12), shot up 622.1% year-over-year for the one-week period ending March 21, 2020, and 161.8% for the four-year period. Easter did not occur until April 21 in 2019.

Beverages
Orange juice sales rose 73.2% for the one-week period ending March 21, 2020, year-over-year and 28% compared to the prior four-week period. Packaged coffee showed nearly identical patterns with 73.3% growth over the one-week period and 28% gain over the four-week period.