What's Inside

This report looks back at the Great Recession of 2007–2009, to apply learnings from the sales performance of the US retail industry to the current coronavirus situation. We offer insights into US shopping behavior today and consider consumer confidence during the 2007–2009 recession.

We discuss the impact of the Great Recession on US retail sales and its implications for how the retail industry will fare the coronavirus pandemic. We break down our analysis according to the following sectors:

• Department stores—including JCPenney, Kohl’s and Macy’s
• Clothing and accessories—including American Eagle Outfitters and Gap Inc
• Mass merchandising—including Costco, Target and Walmart
• Home furnishing and appliances—including Best Buy and Home Depot

Click here to view Coresight Research’s ongoing coverage of the coronavirus outbreak.