Most Prefer Virtual to Physical Events Amid Delta Surge: Resonate Study

About 53% of consumers currently prefer online meetings and virtual conferences to meeting people in person, said an August study from Resonate on how the “delta turning point” is affecting American sentiment and behavior. Twenty-nine percent of respondents to a survey fielded July 14-Aug. 2 believe it will take a year for life to return to normal, up 44% since June; 12% said they didn’t believe life would ever get back to normal. Some 68% said they prefer to shop in store, aligning with trends reported this week by Target and Walmart, up 18% since June. Nearly 64% of respondents are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, nearly 20% plan to be within seven months, and 19.2% said they never will be. After a 46% drop in pro-mask sentiment in late June, Resonate found a 14% increase in the latest report. A third said they’re spending less than before the COVID-19 era; 23% are saving more.