Shifts in Consumer Behaviour during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Short-Term Adjustments or Long-Term Changes?

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic caused major changes in the buying behavior of people as well as uses the goods and services. Some reactions, such as panic buying and stockpiling, were short-term responses to uncertainty. On another side the growth of online shopping, higher health awareness, and more focus on sustainable choices, show signs of being long-term changes. This paper examines whether these shifts in consumer behaviour are temporary or permanent. Use of secondary data, industry reports, and academic studies, it looks that how different sectors like retail, food, healthcare, travel, and digital services were affected. The findings show that while some habits returned to normal after restrictions ended, deeper changes, such as the wide use of digital platforms, stronger reliance on e-commerce, and changing consumer values, are likely to remain. By separating short-term reactions from lasting transformations, this paper helps businesses, policymakers, and researchers to understand the consumer behaviour and plan better strategies for the post-pandemic period.