• by Wayne Friedman , April 10, 2020

While many online consumer purchases have grown in recent weeks -- including in the areas of entertainment, health, wine/spirits, and computer software -- as a result of more people staying at home due to the COVID-19 virus, pricing/average order value is drastically lower.

"Every day is Black Friday," according to a new study from ad-technology company SteelHouse. "Ecommerce prices are dropping fast, while purchases increase."

Big-time price discounts across many consumer categories are a major reason, according to the study's authors, causing much lower "average order value."

The number of entertainment purchases is up 19% week-over-week for the two-week period from March 13 through March 26, but the average order value is down 43%. In addition, the number of consumers making those purchases is 17% lower.

There were similar results for health/wellness products and services -- 20% higher in the number of purchases, with an average order value down 29%. The number of consumers buying those products is 4% higher.

In addition, computer services purchases are higher due to more consumers staying home, at 45%, with the average order value down 21%. 

At the same time, there has been an expansion due to growth in “essential” buying.

The study also notes after the hoarding in the first weeks of COVID-19, there has been a decline in essential buying: Food/Beverage is down 22% in the last week of March versus a 124% increase in the previous week. Mental Health Care is 40% lower versus an increase of 41% early in March.

Buying of wine/spirits is 41% higher against 31% lower pricing (average order value). Luxury goods/jewelry is up 55% when it comes to individual purchases, against 8% lower pricing and 35% more consumers making purchases. 

Research also shows consumer electronics buying is up 61% in the most recent week.

SteelHouse says public donations are up 67% in the third week in March and 51% higher for the fourth week.

SteelHouse analyzed over one billion dollars per week in customer ecommerce sales, beginning on March 13.