Read our full analysis for a more in-depth look at these trends.
Clock watching
Remote work and online shopping are subtly reshaping when Americans spend.
January 2026
Key takeaways
- The pandemic ushered in significant economic changes. Working from home went from being a fringe activity to the norm for many. At the same time, the upward trend in online spending accelerated.
- How have these changes impacted the pattern of spending throughout the day? Using Bank of America internal data we find a tendency towards fewer transactions being made in the afternoon. And there is a slight rise in retail transactions made over the working week versus the weekend. So perhaps greater flexibility in daily routines means consumers are carving out some shopping time in the mornings.
- Around lunchtime, it appears that people are substituting buying lunch out with grabbing something from the grocery store. While these trends are fairly subtle, there is little doubt the consumer landscape will continue to evolve.
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