France: COVID-19 online sales growth by category

Overall, items intended for the home and families were favored after the physical shopping restrictions, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in France. In January 2020, buyers mainly spent more on products for babies and children (410 percent). In March, as COVID-19 begins to spread around the world, the food and drink category was predictably experiencing the largest increase compared to other categories. In November 2020, with the start of the sales season happening in parallel with the second containment, the consumption of food and drinks was on the rise again (585 percent), as well as the health and beauty sector (611 percent).

E-commerce sales growth during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in France between January and November 2020, by category

Characteristic	Accessories for animals	Clothes and accessories	Technology and science	Antiques and vintage	Food and drinks	Home and garden	Health and beauty	Entertainment	Children and babies	Gifts
Nov	227%	208%	109%	226%	585%	360%	611%	151%	215%	218%
Oct	216%	143%	61%	74%	290%	292%	632%	149%	532%	162%
Sep	165%	203%	75%	125%	288%	266%	526%	78%	173%	10%
Aug	248%	278%	108%	35%	263%	239%	612%	75%	218%	276%
Jul	194%	277%	46%	40%	270%	211%	87%	113%	119%	133%
Jun	204%	189%	51%	55%	392%	239%	168%	105%	207%	-55%
May	170%	315%	126%	137%	940%	278%	147%	75%	199%	-64%
Apr	219%	131%	73%	67%	1,231%	216%	292%	159%	1,037%	-65%
Mar	23%	-8%	-27%	-17%	279%	38%	209%	68%	225%	122%
Feb	11%	18%	-9%	-42%	67%	46%	26%	59%	219%	175%
Jan	7%	110%	-33%	-11%	53%	51%	42%	55%	410%	-60%