U.S. consumers are more optimistic about the economy rebounding, according to ICSC’s latest Coronavirus Consumer Survey of 1,004 respondents, conducted April 2 to 4.

Forty-three percent say their opinion about the current state of the economy is more positive than it was a month ago, up from 39 percent of the respondents to the survey conducted March 19 to 21. Fifty-eight percent expect the economy to improve over the next 12 months, up from 53 percent in the preceding survey.

Among the demographic groups in which the most consumers expect the economy to improve are Millennials, at 71 percent; people making more than $100,000 per year, at 84 percent; and urban dwellers at 70 percent.

Consumers also say physical stores will play a crucial part in shopping after COVID-19. Sixty-seven percent say the ability to visit physical stores makes them feel more connected to the brand and comfortable with the products they purchase than when shopping online. Seventy percent of Millennials agreed with that statement, compared with 68 percent of Gen Xers, 67 percent of Boomers and 56 percent of Gen Z.

Fifty-two percent of U.S. consumers say the presence of a nearby physical store impacts their decision to shop online from that same retailer. Sixty-one percent of Millennials agreed with that statement, compared with 57 percent of Gen Z, 50 percent of Gen Xers and 44 percent of Boomers.

Sixty-two percent of U.S. consumers say that a year from now, physical spaces will play a major role in the way they consume goods and services. Sixty-nine percent of Millennials agreed, compared with 63 percent of Gen Xers, 58 percent of Boomers and 57 percent of Gen Z.

Sixty-one percent of U.S. consumers say brick-and-mortar stores are valuable in delivering the experiences and engagement they expect from the retailers they patronize. Seventy percent of Boomers agreed, compared with 67 percent of Gen Xers, 51 percent of Millennials and 51 percent of Gen Z.

See the results of ICSC's previous Coronavirus Consumer Survey.