
CPG AND COVID-19 SHOPPING TRENDS
These are extraordinary times. Along with the rest of America, at NCS we’re doing our best to adjust to these uncharted waters.
Our teams are adapting our solutions to account for this health crisis. We’re continuing to consult with our advertisers on activation and measurement strategies to ensure impactful advertising to consumers today. And we’re actively tracking how this pandemic is influencing consumer CPG purchases and media consumption.
In safety and wellness,
The NCS Team

Valentine’s “Month”
February 11, 2021
We expect this Valentine’s Day to bring increased chocolate sales all month long.
READ MORE >Out With the Old?
February 5, 2021
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Who’s Advertising in the Big Game
READ MORE >3 CONSUMER TRENDS ON ALCOHOL
December 30, 2020
See how Pernod Ricard is approaching 2021 activations.
READ MORE >Ring in the New Buyers
December 16, 2020
How can brands stand out and drive sales as the holiday season winds down?
READ MORE >The TP Index: Round #2
December 4, 2020
National TP Index shows how sales of the commodity have changed through the pandemic.
READ MORE >The State of Thanksgiving 2020
November 12, 2020
Survey shows differences in regional plans for Thanksgiving.
READ MORE >Thanksgiving 2020 Consumer Sentiment
November 6, 2020
Get the 2020 CPG Advertiser's recipe for Thanksgiving.
READ MORE >Holiday…It Would Be So Nice
October 9, 2020
See how 2020 holiday CPG spending has fared so far.
READ MORE >The times, they are a-changin’
October 1, 2020
See how CPG categories have fared 6 months into the pandemic.
READ MORE >Taking stock of the essentials
September 24, 2020
As buying habits level off, essential items are starting to claim back shelf space.
READ MORE >Would You Like Sanitizer With That?
September 18, 2020
Our obsession with cleaning isn't going away any time soon.
READ MORE >Playbook for Advertising Effectiveness
September 1, 2020
Maneuver your way through the pandemic.
READ MORE >Back to School…At Home
August 24, 2020
See how CPG categories fared during 2019 back-to-school.
READ MORE >CPG Spend Still Elevated in July
August 21, 2020
Household CPG sales were up 20% in July compared to one year ago.
READ MORE >At Home With Tom
July 22, 2020
Hear our SVP of TV discuss how to maximize your TV budget for the rest of the year.
READ MORE >Red, White & Food
July 21, 2020
Grocery purchases for Independence Day 2020 look a lot like they did in 2019.
READ MORE >Pantry Deloading
July 20, 2020
U.S. consumers have been eating their way through food reserves purchased earlier this year.
READ MORE >CPG Loyalty Compass
July 16, 2020
Plan your advertising today and into the future, and move your customers up the loyalty ladder.
READ MORE >The New Toilet Paper…
July 14, 2020
It seems like the great toilet paper stock up of 2020 is mostly behind us. But is it really?
READ MORE >Paper Good Stockouts
July 10, 2020
U.S. shoppers are more likely to find toilet paper and paper towels on shelves these days.
READ MORE >Brand Loyalty Encore
July 3, 2020
In our brand loyalty webinar "after show", Lance, Steve, and Stu answer audience questions.
READ MORE >Bakers Gonna Bake
June 29, 2020
From flour to sugar, see how baking categories fared during COVID-19.
READ MORE >Winner Winner Chicken Dinner
June 26, 2020
Americans are spending more on meat, and poultry is the clear winner in the U.S.
READ MORE >State of the States
June 24, 2020
U.S. shoppers follow the same pattern at the grocery store, regardless of state closing.
READ MORE >Sunday: No Longer the #1 Shopping Day
June 12, 2020
See when consumers shopped throughout the pandemic.
READ MORE >So Fresh and So Clean
June 10, 2020
As states started to open back up in May, beauty/personal care product sales increased steadily.
READ MORE >TOP CPG CATEGORIES WEEK OF MAY 30
June 5, 2020
Find out which CPG categories lead as the country reopens.
READ MORE >TOP CPG CATEGORIES WEEK OF MAY 23
June 1, 2020
See which CPG categories U.S. consumers prioritized.
READ MORE >Tapping Into That Summer State of Mind
May 29, 2020
Consumers are thirsty for the traditions of summer.
READ MORE >Where’s the Beef?
May 22, 2020
Meat categories experienced a sales uptick, with one notable exception: fresh beef & pork.
READ MORE >At Home with Carl
May 21, 2020
Hear our EVP of Strategy discuss advertising during consumer uncertainty.
READ MORE >Warner Media WEBINAR RECORDING
May 20, 2020
Learn about purchase-based targeting with Peter Topol, VP, Advanced TV Partnerships.
READ MORE >Adweek Webinar Recording
May 15, 2020
Watch our webinar with Adweek on how CPG brand loyalty is shifting during this pandemic.
READ MORE >Loyalty in the Quarantine Economy
May 14, 2020
Why brands and advertising matter more now than ever.
READ MORE >At Home with Jeff and Leslie
May 8, 2020
Watch our COO and CRO talk changing consumer behaviors (including their own).
READ MORE >Top Categories Week Ending April 25
May 7, 2020
See which CPG categories U.S. consumers prioritized.
READ MORE >The TP Story Rolls On
April 30, 2020
Given stockout challenges, will you be able to secure this precious commodity in stores?
READ MORE >Rediscovering Traditional Pastimes
April 28, 2020
Americans are returning to more traditional pastimes.
READ MORE >Quarantine Stinks. Literally.
April 22, 2020
Personal care has dropped a few rungs on the ladder of priority.
READ MORE >Nostalgia. It’s What’s For Dinner.
April 16, 2020
In times of high stress, we turn to food for comfort.
READ MORE >For the Love of Sweets
April 15, 2020
Americans are turning to cookies, ice cream, and chocolate to get through this quarantine.
READ MORE >Sandwich Sales Soar
April 10, 2020
Households stock up on cheese and lunch meat as parents prepare more lunches at home.
READ MORE >Hair Color Shines
April 9, 2020
Hair color sales soared March 20, 2020, as consumers aim to look their best for video calls.
READ MORE >At Home with Linda
April 8, 2020
Join CEO Linda Dupree as she talks consumer shopping shifts around COVID-19.
READ MORE >CPG Spend Still Elevated
April 7, 2020
Household grocery spend remains elevated during Home-Confined Buying.
READ MORE >Shopping Trips Take a Dip
April 6, 2020
Consumer store trips peaked during Extreme buying, then decreased with social distancing.
READ MORE >U.S. Shopping Baskets Shift
April 3, 2020
In Home-Confined Buying, shoppers return to a basket mix reminiscent of pre-COVID-19.
READ MORE >We’re Still Buying Booze
March 25, 2020
When consumers rushed to stores in March, they also stocked up on alcohol.
READ MORE >COVID-19 Shopping Stages
March 23, 2020
NCS has defined five stages of consumer buying related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
READ MORE >Spend Beyond Holiday Levels
March 19, 2020
As consumers prepared to spend more time at home, how did their grocery purchases change?
READ MORE >A Bulk Buying Tipping Point
March 18, 2020
The news cycle has distorted when U.S. consumers really started pantry loading.
READ MORE >Butt Seriously: The TP Index
March 17, 2020
NCS has developed a National TP Index: see when toilet paper became the top-selling category.
READ MORE >To the Grocery Store We Go
March 16, 2020
American spending at grocery stores and drugstores increased 62% and 16% on March 12.
READ MORE >Top Categories on March 12
March 15, 2020
When consumers hit the stores on March 12, what did they stock up on?
READ MORE >Hand Sanitizer & TP Race
March 14, 2020
When did consumers really start stocking up on hand sanitizer and toilet paper?
READ MORE >Preparing for COVID-19
March 13, 2020
These are extraordinary times. Along with the rest of America, at NCS we’re doing our best.
READ MORE >We’ve Got Your Back
In these uncertain times, NCS gives you certain answers.
Should I continue to advertise and target? How will pantry stocking impact measurements and trending? Can NCS give me views with and without COVID-19 impact? Our client consulting and data science teams are closely monitoring CPG purchase patterns and actively adjusting our solutions–so we can give you answers and a true read on how your advertising is affecting sales during this period.
See How We're Preparing Contact Us With Questions