By the Numbers: Signs of normalcy return to Canadian economy, food retail sector

Vancouver – June 30, 2020 – A new survey by the Angus Reid Group analyzing attitudes and behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic finds that Canadians are generally optimistic about the country’s response to the coronavirus, and the outlook going forward, as Canada’s economy continues to reopen and the food retail sector returns to normalcy.     

Titled “COVID-19: Weekly Monitoring of Canadian Perceptions & Behaviour – Wave 15,” the survey interviewed Canadian adults across the country between June 22 to 23, asking people how and whether their perceptions and behaviours have changed due to COVID-19.  

The poll reveals a high degree of optimism among the public, as 86 percent of Canadians believe “things are getting better” with respect to the coronavirus, up 15 percent from four weeks ago. 77 percent of respondents say we need to start stimulating our economy back to health, while 46 percent feel “it’s time for things to go back to normal.”

Despite this optimism, 59 percent of Canadians are either very or extremely concerned about the economy, with one-quarter of respondents saying they are also worried about their personal finances as a result of the pandemic.

When it comes to grocery shopping habits, 93 percent of Canadians are comfortable visiting the grocery store, with 51 percent saying they “go cautiously” and 42 percent claiming they are “fine with” grocery shopping in-store. This is nearly identical to the Wave 11 findings.

In a continued sign that consumers are feeling safer at stores after UFCW Canada and its Local Unions pushed for plexiglass installations, increased physical distancing, and other enhanced safety measures, only 7 percent of Canadians claim they are avoiding grocery stores altogether – unchanged from a month ago.

Meanwhile, it appears fewer people are cooking at home – and are potentially relying more on take-out and prepared meal options – as only 21 percent of respondents say they are making more meals at home, down 10 percent from the last reportage. A mere 17 percent are using their downtime to try new recipes, a drop of 9 percent from the Wave 11 poll.  

In a departure from previous surveys, Angus Reid has stopped tracking the grocery item purchases of Canadian adults responding to the poll.  

The survey sample was balanced and weighted based on age, gender, and province according to the latest Census data, and the results are considered accurate within 3.1 percentage points, 19 times of out 20. To see the full survey, click here.