July 2020

Coronavirus Survey Results

STRESS, WORRY & A RETURN TO NORMAL 

The environment around the coronavirus pandemic is clearly one of great concern; it is not, however, one of panic.

About one in five consumers continue to view themselves as being in meltdown mode or close to it. At the same time, the proportion of consumers who feel they are in a good place is up from the levels recorded in April.

While consumers are concerned about their health, they are also concerned about their finances. This conflict – wanting to stay healthy and financially stable – continues to create confusion among and division between consumers who don’t want to get sick but are ready for the economy to open. Concern about health remains high while concern about finances has eased slightly as the economy has reopened. Whether it’s the economy or the coronavirus, many consumers feel things will get worse before they get better.

Question

As it relates to the coronavirus, how would you describe the level of stress in your household?

North Carolina

South Carolina

Question

How concerned are you that you or someone in your household will come into contact with the coronavirus?

North Carolina

South Carolina

QUESTION

How concerned are you that you or someone in your household will contract the coronavirus and become ill?

North Carolina

South Carolina

QUESTION

While the coronavirus is being called a healthcare crisis, it is also creating financial hardships for many. To what extent are you concerned about your health/the health of your family?

North Carolina

South Carolina

QUESTION

While the coronavirus is being called a healthcare crisis, it is also creating financial hardships for many. To what extent are you concerned about your financial situation?

North Carolina

South Carolina

Employment Impact

Just over half of the households report changes at work.

More than half of households in the Carolinas report experiencing changes at work ranging from minor changes like working from home to more serious changes like having someone in the household become furloughed or losing a job altogether.

Study findings indicate that many who are working from home are enjoying it. In April, 40% of consumers who were working from home said they planned to work from home more often post-pandemic. Now, 60% of those working from home say they plan to continue working from home post-pandemic.

The good news is that consumers continue to remain confident their jobs will be there when the pandemic ends. 

QUESTION

As a result of the coronavirus outbreak, have you or has anyone in your household been asked to work from home?

North Carolina

South Carolina

QUESTION

As a result of the coronavirus outbreak, have you or has anyone in your household owned or worked at a business that has closed?

North Carolina

South Carolina

QUESTION

As a result of the coronavirus outbreak, have you or has anyone in your household been furloughed?

North Carolina

South Carolina

QUESTION

As a result of the coronavirus outbreak, have you or has anyone in your household lost a job?

North Carolina

South Carolina

QUESTION

Among those who do work outside the home, how confident are you that you will keep your job through the end of the year?

North Carolina

South Carolina

IMPACT ON BEHAVIOr

Eager to get back to their old routines, but embracing parts of the new normal, consumers are more comfortable getting back to some routines than others.

Consumers believe that masks prevent the spread of coronavirus, but many are ready to stop wearing them routinely. Consumers want to go out to eat, but they are also practicing social distancing. In the short term, many are reluctant to attend concerts or plays, college/professional sporting events and even religious services. Further, most say it will be at least three months before they feel comfortable shaking hands or hugging when greeting someone.

QUESTION

How would you rate yourself when it comes to rigidly practicing social distancing?

0 = I don’t do it at all
9-10 = I practice social distancing all the time

North Carolina

South Carolina

QUESTION

How would you rate yourself when it comes to wearing a mask/face covering in public places?

0 = I don’t do it at all
9-10 = I wear a mask at all times

North Carolina

South Carolina

QUESTION

Do you agree or disagree with being required to wear a mask by state government?

North Carolina

South Carolina

QUESTION

Assuming things continue to go the way they have been, when will you feel comfortable vacationing overnight within driving distance?

North Carolina

South Carolina

QUESTION

Assuming things continue to go the way they have been, when will you feel comfortable traveling by airplane?

North Carolina

South Carolina

QUESTION

Assuming things continue to go the way they have been, when will you feel comfortable attending a church or other religious service?

North Carolina

South Carolina

QUESTION

Assuming things continue to go the way they have been, when will you feel comfortable attending a concert or play?

North Carolina

South Carolina

QUESTION

Assuming things continue to go the way they have been, when will you feel comfortable eating inside at a dine-in restaurant?

North Carolina

South Carolina

QUESTION

Assuming things continue to go the way they have been, when will you feel comfortable stopping routinely wearing a face covering?

North Carolina

South Carolina

Making Customers Feel Safe

Businesses can take steps to make consumers feel more safe.

Consumers are ready to get back to their old routines and ways of doing things, but they also don’t want to get sick. To this end, consumers say they are more likely to visit an establishment that is taking precautions like providing hand sanitizer, ensuring customers are properly distanced, explaining the steps they are taking to ensure safety and having employees wear face masks.

Question

What impact, if any, would the following actions by a business have on your likelihood of visiting the establishment?

All employees wear masks/face coverings

North Carolina

South Carolina

Question

What impact, if any, would the following actions by a business have on your likelihood of visiting the establishment?

SOCIAL DISTANCING IS CLEARLY IN PLACE AND BEING FOLLOWED

North Carolina

South Carolina

Question

What impact, if any, would the following actions by a business have on your likelihood of visiting the establishment?

HAND SANITIZER IS WIDELY AVAILABLE

North Carolina

South Carolina

Question

What impact, if any, would the following actions by a business have on your likelihood of visiting the establishment?

CUSTOMERS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR FACE MASKS

North Carolina

South Carolina

Question

What impact, if any, would the following actions by a business have on your likelihood of visiting the establishment?

THE ESTABLISHMENT LIMITS THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS WHO CAN BE IN THE BUILDING AT ONE TIME

North Carolina

South Carolina

IMPACT ON TRAVEL 

A slight majority of consumers are not confident they will be able to take a summer vacation.​

The coronavirus pandemic is having a tremendous impact on tourism and travel. A majority of consumers are not confident they will be able to take a summer vacation. Among those with some level of confidence that they will take a summer vacation, nearly one in five say they will stay in state due to the coronavirus. Many consumers are ready for travel by car but not yet comfortable with travel by air.

Question

Among those who typically take a summer vacation, how confident are you that you will be able to take a vacation this summer?

North Carolina

South Carolina

Question

Among everyone but those who are not confident at all that they will take a summer vacation, where did/will you go?

North Carolina

South Carolina

Businesses Taking Stances

Consumers are divided when it comes to businesses taking stances on social injustice.

Nearly a third of consumers say they are more likely to support companies that make a statement about police violence and racial injustice. About one in four, however, say they are less likely to support a company that makes such a statement. A third say such a statement would have no impact with the balance saying they aren’t sure what impact such a statement would have on their perception of a company.

When it comes to employees or vendors that make insensitive and racist posts on social media, two-thirds feel the company should cut ties with them.

Question

Which is closer to your opinion?

Some people say that when brands/companies in South Carolina make statements about their position on the ongoing protests around police violence and racial injustices, they are more likely to support the organizations. Other people say that when brands/companies in South Carolina make statements about their position on the ongoing protests around police violence and racial injustice, they are less likely to support them.

North Carolina

South Carolina

Question

What is your position?

In recent days, some businesses have cut ties with employees and/or vendors who have made insensitive and racist posts on their social media platforms. What is your position on businesses cutting ties with employees or vendors who make insensitive and racist remarks about the current situation?

North Carolina

South Carolina

Want to receive future Chernoff Newman Insights?

Sign up now to be alerted when we complete our next survey.

Sign up now to be alerted when we complete our next survey.