Consumers’ economic outlook is improving, and they plan to increase spending once life returns to relative normal, according to ICSC’s latest Coronavirus Consumer Survey, for which ICSC surveyed 1,003 U.S. consumers between March 19 and 21.

Thirty-nine percent believe the current state of the economy is better than it was a month ago, while 28 percent said it is worse. Fifty-three percent see the economy improving over the next 12 months, up from the 49 percent who said so five weeks earlier. Twenty-five percent expect the economy to get worse over the next 12 months, down from the 30 percent who said so just over a month ago.

Eighty-nine percent of U.S. adults already have received or expect to receive a stimulus check from the federal government’s third relief package. Of those, 42 percent plan to use the funds to buy groceries and other household essentials and the same share plans to put the funds into savings; 36 percent will pay off debt; 27 percent will pay housing costs, including rent, mortgage payments and utilities; 24 percent will pay for health care or medicine; and 17 percent will buy nonessential merchandise.

As life returns closer to normal, consumers are planning to do many of their usual activities at the same levels as they had prior to the pandemic. Fifty-one percent would visit physical stores at the same level as before the pandemic, 45 percent would dine or drink at eating or drinking establishments, 42 percent would see movies in theaters, 47 percent would visit malls, 47 percent would work out at gyms and fitness facilities and 47 percent would visit leisure or entertainment venues like arcades, recreational sports complexes, sporting events and concerts. Fifty-three percent would visit open-air shopping centers at the same level they did before the pandemic, and 50 percent would visit nail salons and other personal service establishments. Forty percent are likely to increase spending and cut back on saving as life returns to normal.

Backfilling empty storefronts: the concepts U.S. consumers would like to see

39%  Farmers markets

36%  Traditional fast-food, quick-service and casual restaurants

29%  Educational, museum and cultural centers; art galleries; and libraries

25%  Traditional medical offices and walk-in medical clinics

22%  Performance/event spaces

22%  Food halls

21%  Large-format entertainment like trampoline parks, indoor skydiving, laser tag, rock climbing, aquariums, amusement rides and casinos

20%  Fitness centers like gyms, yoga, spinning, Pilates, CrossFit and kickboxing

19%  Bowling, billiards, arcades and karaoke

19%  Painting, pottery and arts and crafts studios

17%  Escape rooms and virtual reality and augmented reality experiences

17%  Preventative and complementary medicine like massage parlors, meditation spaces, saunas, flotation therapy, cryotherapy, and hydration and vitamin infusions

14%  Esports

13%  Beauty centers for anti-aging and other treatments

11%  Coworking