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Study: Only 42% would dine out

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July 21, 2020

Fewer than half (42%) of Americans said they are planning to dine out even as regulations restricting their rights loosen, according to Harris Interactive and Toluna, a consumer intelligence platform company, that released finding this week from their COVID-19 Barometer. The info was based on sentiments shared by a community panel of more than 30 million members who provided information on global views about COVID-19. In the most recent research, the companies said 1,102 U.S. residents provided responses.

Salient findings include:

• 73% were concerned about a second COVID-19 wave.
• 40% said they would cope with reimposed dining restrictions if they lasted more than 12 weeks.
• 67% said their health conditions put them at higher risk for the virus.
• 47% said they plan to be more health-conscious.
• 49% are extremely worried about their financial security.
• 33% worry about an economic downturn.

Respondents said their fears about finances were also prompting them to save money (42%), budget (38%), pay off debt (31%) and keep more money in an account that's easily accessible (28%).

Finally, participants said when restaurants open, they were more likely to go to them if they took measures like making masks and hand sanitizers available (51%), imposing social distancing (49%), checking temperatures (44%) and using plexiglass screens (37%).