RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A survey conducted by Mobilis personal finance management startup, which interviewed 677 clients living in São Paulo State between July 2nd and 13th, estimated an increase in spending by the population in essential areas. A total of 79.17 percent of respondents said they spent more on supermarkets and 52.88 percent had higher water, energy, and gas bills.
The trend is opposite to the cut of expenses considered non-essential: among the expenses that have dropped, are Leisure (-67.80 percent), Travel (-59.38 percent), Clothing (-58.79 percent) and Restaurants (-52.88 percent). With the adoption of the home office in a good part of the businesses, expenses with Transport (-56,43 percent) also suffered a reduction.
According to the Mobilis survey, in early July, 44.4 percent of São Paulo citizens still faced difficulties with their personal finances, four months after the start of the novel coronavirus pandemic in Brazil and the social isolation measures, which partially paralyzed the economy in the state.
Among these, 6.6 percent said they had lost all their income and 37.8 percent said their earnings were partially reduced.
The survey also confirms the growth of e-commerce observed during the pandemic. A total of 48 percent of Mobilis customers in São Paulo said they bought more over the Internet, while 26.7 percent maintained their spending and 25.3 percent reduced it.
Among the categories that stood out in e-commerce, according to Mobilis, are supermarkets (30.13 percent), books (23.93 percent), electronics (23.78 percent), casual clothing (22.16 percent), beauty products and self-care (20.97 percent), household appliances (17.73 percent), construction material and/or decoration (17.73 percent), and video games (15.66 percent).
Source: Estadão Conteúdo