According to a new Puget Sound Trend report, households had more deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic than in 2017 and 2019.
The results were pulled from the 2017, 2019 and 2021 Household Travel Surveys. The 2017 and 2019 surveys were combined to strengthen the statistical validity of their findings.
Food and grocery deliveries more than doubled from 2017/2019 to 2021. High-income households were more likely to receive food deliveries. In 2017/2019, food deliveries received for people making over $75,000 were 1.5%. They went up to 5.5% in 2021. Grocery deliveries also increased, from 1.6% in 2017/2019, to 4.6% in 2021.
However, low- and high-income households increased their package deliveries. Specifically, households receiving less than $75,000 had a significant spike in package deliveries, from 18% to 30%.
Households with children also tended to receive the most packages in 2021, with 45%, but food, grocery and work deliveries stayed stable regardless of age and household composition.
There are distinct changes from 2017/2019 to 2021, in part because COVID still impacted the region economically when participants took the survey in spring 2021.
The Household Travel Survey program helps us better understand the transportation needs of the region. Check out the Puget Sound Trend report for more information.