Weekly FMCG sales change in Belgium due to coronavirus in 2020

During the outbreak of the coronavirus from late February to May 2020 in Belgium, the sales figures for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) were much higher than in the same period the year before. Looking more closely at the weekly evolution of relative sales of FMCG products, three peaks can be observed. Firstly, the total sales of FMCG products, which includes supermarket food sales, enjoyed an initial peak in week 11, which was at the height of COVID-19 panic and supermarket hoarding. A second, smaller peak can be seen in week 15, which was the Easter weekend. However, FMCG sales during the third peak period, the Pentecost weekend of week 22, were even higher than during Easter. Possible reasons for this include the great weather and the loosening of social distancing rules. Sales peaks over holiday weekends are possible because supermarkets and some non-food retailers are allowed to be open in parts of Belgium during some public holidays.