Retail sales were down 16% last month. The largest monthly drop on record.
To put that into context, the largest recorded single month decrease prior to April was a record 8.7%. In March of this year.
Two months in a row of record-setting drops in retail sales.
People are shopping less and less—and we’re all learning that life continues without it.
Looking deeper in the numbers: Clothing stores took the biggest hit with a 78.8% tumble in sales. Other big losers were electronics and appliances (60.6% decline), furniture and home furnishing (58.7% drop), and sporting goods (down 38%). Source
In other words, nonessential consumer goods are not being purchased. And yet, for most of us, life continues.
Oh, there may be some people that miss shopping and wish their weekend could be spent at the mall, but I get the feeling that “digging through clearance racks” is not the top item on most peoples’ to-do list when shelter-in-place guidelines are lifted.
Because we are all realizing that life is not found in an abundance of material possessions.
Retail shopping is not needed for our survival. Of course, it never was. But it has been helpful to be reminded of that fact.
Given the reality that most of our homes are filled with more possessions than at any point in human history (even after 2 months of stores being closed), buying stuff from the store is no longer about survival for most of us.
Shopping for clothes, electronics, or sporting goods is not a matter of life-or-death. We’re all learning that—or at least we should be.
But I think we are learning an even more important lesson.
We’re also learning that excess physical possessions is not where quality of life is found either.
I recently asked a group of random strangers on Twitter, “What are you most looking forward to doing when shelter-in-place guidelines are lifted?”
Among the answers, nobody replied “shopping.”
Instead, people want to hang out with friends, see loved ones, take their family out for dinner, attend concerts, use the parks, hit the gym, or go out to enjoy ice cream.
And I think that’s the point. When it comes to recognizing what activities contribute to quality of life, accumulating physical stuff pales in comparison to the actual life-giving pursuits we are being forced to go without.
We’re all learning this aren’t we? That nobody is missing material things.
We miss hugging our grandparents, sharing experiences with friends, social gatherings, intimate conversations, and meeting new people.
That is where life is found.
In relationships with other people.
Not in material possessions.
Tiara says
So far I have hauled out three bags of trash, and as soon as donation centers reopen, I will be hauling out a lot more stuff. Spending two months locked in my apartment has made me realize just how much excess stuff I had. And I have absolutely no desire to buy anything more.
I want less, less, less, in order to have more freedom. I want to leave my big city and live someplace closer to nature, with much less stuff I don’t need. Our consumer-based society needs to change. Yes, there will be jobs lost, but there must be a shift away from filling the world with crap and killing our planet.
Barbara H says
This may have been one of your best articles yet!
joshua becker says
Well thanks Barbara.
Michele Bunnion says
I truly feel this way. I miss seeing and hugging my grandchildren. Miss my mom, who is in an assisted living community. I miss worshiping with my church family. I am grateful for modern technology that we can still stay connected in some way. Thank you, Josh!
John says
My mother is an 86 year old Parkinson’s patient. She never talks about stuff she has owned. She talks about memories of family life and experiences she has had. Memories are roses in our winter.
Kay says
John, what a beautiful way to express how cherished memories can be!
joshua becker says
Indeed.
Bobbi Junior says
While in lockdown, we have no need to impress others. Our commercial-driven media has always told us how we need to present to the world. Right now, we’re on hiatus. When restrictions are lifted, most will go back to heeding the call to be in fashion, with clear skin, driving the right car, etc.
And I agree with the comment above that many make their living from the retail industry. We can’t demonize them, but we can consider our own behaviour. (Don’t mind the spelling. I’m Canadian!)
joshua becker says
Relevant: A Break From FOMO
Christine says
Although I agree with you, what about all the people that made their living by selling all of these nonessential things? Unfortunately, our economy is built on consumption. How do we keep our economy going, not have people starving, and yet live a lifestyle that values people over things when those things allowed people to make a living.
joshua becker says
Our economy is built on the exchange of money. That does not need to stop. Just because people stop buying thing they don’t need doesn’t mean money stops changing hands. Here’s more: A New, Minimalist Economy
Darlene Johnson says
Exactly! We will still spend. But we will maybe be more thoughfull when we spend? And maybe we can all have a few dollars in savings? Maybe our spending will shift to gourmet meals, better wine and chatting around an open fire? Maybe we’ll all start getting a mani/pedi and fabulous hair cuts? And maybe we’ll stop cramming so much “stuff” into our homes along the way. This will become our new normal. Everything changes anyway.
Peace!
J. says
Ah yes, I have a couple friends who would disagree with you about the shopping part. But that is who they are, yet when they come to my house, they feel so relaxed. I started letting go of material possessions awhile back and have never looked back! Many lessons learned through this maze of confusion we are experiencing. Something good comes from everything…..
Mom-L says
I agree that many people have had an awakening to the priorities in their lives. But I don’t agree with the logic in this article pertaining to buying material goods. People weren’t buying because they had no choice: most state governments declared most retail shops “nonessential” and made them close.
joshua becker says
Thanks for the comment. Just to clarify: I did not write that people stopped buying because they had a choice in the matter. I know why retail sales have dropped so much over the last two months. I also know that life has continued, and the things most people are missing the most right now is not rummaging through a Clearance rack somewhere.
MamaSquirrel says
For those of us on low budgets (for instance because we have chosen not to work af the “ratrace” jobs), clearance racks are one of the strategies we use to stretch a dollar, along with thrifting, making things last, and saying no. They make life a bit nicer for our family by allowing us to buy items that we would not have been able to afford otherwise, especially for gifts. So yes, the privilege of browsing the clearance rack is missed, and I refuse to be shamed for that.
Joy says
Amen sister, I’m there with you.
Joy says
Amen sister, I’m there with you. Been countin’ down the days waitin for those thrift stores to fling open the doors!
MamaSquirrel says
It’s easy to say “nobody is missing material things” if you’re not depending on the sale of those things to make your living, or if you’re unable to obtain the materials or parts that you need to continue your business.
Eefje Cadée says
I couldn’t agree more with this statement. Human interaction always trumps stuff and more and more people are realising this. Although I am not from the States – I live in the Netherlands, a small country in Europe – stores here have also reported a significant drop in their sales (online and offline). However, recently the severe lockdown measures have been lifted a bit here and this past weekend the lovely sunny weather has resulted in big(ger) crowds in the shopping streets. Some city’s even had to temporarely close off some streets and shops because it was too busy. I can’t believe this has happened. Note: the Netherlands is a small country in which we live relatively close together. I hope people will get their focus back on what is really important. Stay safe!