Survey reveals that the Portuguese are less concerned with virus, more apprehensive about economic crisis

Prepared by Kantar for Centromarca, the Portuguese Association of Companies, a survey has revealed that “the alert of the Portuguese has been intensifying regarding the negative impact [of the pandemic crisis] on the economy”, namely regarding “the possible collapse of social security structures and job loss”.

According to the conclusions of the study, “the pattern of consumption also changed with reverting to the state of calamity”, with the occurrence, starting on the 3^rd and extending to the 17^th of May, of “a greater presence of the Portuguese in stores, but with a marked decrease in the size of purchases”.

“The lack of definition and greater mobility generate shopping behaviour closer to what was seen before the pandemic, with a greater number of visits to stores and, consequently, a slightly lower volume of purchases in each of these visits. It should also be noted that – contrary to what was observed until the beginning of this crisis – the Portuguese prefer to make their purchases now on weekdays and not on weekends as before”, says the director-general of Centromarca, Pedro Pimentel, quoted in the statement.

Regarding purchases in the sector of ‘consumer goods’, the survey’s conclusions also point out that “security measures in places of purchase and in the way the Portuguese consume have increased”. This means that, according to the survery, there is a greater purchase of local products, less time spent in stores and a preference for stores closer to home, with respondents assuming that they are “in a ‘deflation’ but controlled” phase, avoiding the use of public transport and crowds.

“The type of products purchased, the time spent in stores and the physical establishments visited show us the direct impact that the virus has had on the new habits of the Portuguese,” explains Marta Santos, director at Kantar, who was responsible for overseeing the survey.

In relation to routines outside the home, the Portuguese claim to intend to spend their holidays within Portugal, but wanting to reduce their spending in the area of ??restaurants and bars, as well as leisure activities.

“A substantial part of the population still has some fear of returning to consumption activities outside the home. We believe that it is important to maintain prudent and responsible behaviour, but that it is necessary to alleviate excessive fears that can hinder the return and delay the necessary economic recovery in the country”, stresses the Pimentel, head of Centromarca. The survey was carried out on a sample of 4,000 participating households, representative of mainland Portugal and dispersed in more than one thousand survey points, where individuals declared their purchases over the first 20 weeks of 2020.