 TITLE: Consumers Feeling Better About the Pandemic, Economy CONTENT: Consumers Spending Changed Since Start of Pandemic\n--------------------------------------------------\nSpending patterns have also changed since the onset of the pandemic. The portion of consumers spending more on groceries and in-home entertainment is down since March. And the percentage of respondents spending more on restaurants, clothing and gifts has increased, according to Experian's survey.\nIn total, 42% of recently surveyed respondents said they were spending more now on groceries than they did before the pandemic; since March 2020, this number was down 7%. Another 25% said they were spending more now on in-home entertainment than they did before the pandemic, also down by 7%.\nOn the other end of the spectrum, 11% of consumers surveyed said they were spending more on clothing now than before the pandemic—an increase of 5% since March 2020. Increases also occurred in the portion reporting they're spending more now on gifts: 6%, which is a 4% increase since March 2020. END