TRENDS

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many things, but pork’s popularity isn’t one of them. In fact, pork sales soared in 2020, posting steady year-over-year gains since March. (Sales were actually down 5% at the beginning of the month, but between March 8 and March 29, they jumped a whopping 56%.)

Most states have begun to allow restaurants to offer outdoor and dining room service. But with COVID positivity rates rising in many areas, 58% of consumers remain very concerned about its resurgence—and public sentiment about dining out is mixed. In mid-July, more than half (52%) of consumers told Datassential they were avoiding eating out; another 28% said they’re dining at restaurants but feel nervous doing so.

The global coronavirus pandemic has dominated headlines for most of the year—especially since March 13, when the U.S. government declared the outbreak a national emergency. Fears about the health crisis have now been matched by fears of the economic crisis it has spawned.