Shifting Consumer Buying Behavior Post COVID-19 Pandemic: Special Focus to Bihar, India

Shalini Kumari; Rameshwar Singh

Shifting Consumer Buying Behavior Post COVID-19 Pandemic: Special Focus to Bihar, India

Author(s)	Ms. Shalini Kumari, Rameshwar Singh
Country	India
Abstract	The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected and modified the consumer behavior and spending patterns throughout India, particularly affecting economically disadvantaged states like Bihar. This study evaluates the post-pandemic consumer landscape by analyzing data from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2022–23, National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) reports, and pertinent literature to determine changes in consumption patterns, technology usage, and expenditure disparities. The findings indicate that the pandemic expedited a shift towards e-commerce and digital transactions, propelled by mobility limits, health apprehensions, and the demand for contactless services. Consumers have increasingly emphasized convenience, safety, and affordability, leading to increased dependence on online platforms for critical commodities. The study underscores significant disparities in Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE), with Bihar's figures falling below the national average, and the urban-rural divide remaining evident. In rural Bihar, dependence on agriculture and informal work worsened consumption insecurity during the pandemic. The top 5% of the population in both rural and urban India demonstrated markedly greater MPCE than the lowest 5% population highlighting the income disparity. Moreover, psychological factors produced by the pandemic, including perceived danger, anxiety of shortages, and panic buying, influenced changing purchasing behaviors. The study highlights the impact of socioeconomic position, digital literacy, and infrastructure constraints on customer resilience and flexibility. This study concludes that the pandemic instigated enduring preferential transformations in consumer behavior and underscores the necessity for policy frameworks focused on digital inclusion, rural infrastructure, and equitable access to goods and services to facilitate post-pandemic recovery and sustainable development in regions such as Bihar.
Keywords	COVID-19, Consumer behavior, HCES, MPCE
Field	Sociology > Economics
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 1, January-February 2026
Published On	2026-02-13

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Shifting Consumer Buying Behavior Post COVID-19 Pandemic: Special Focus to Bihar, India

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