Latest Data Study Reveals the Most Searched Anti-Germ Products by U.S. State

AUSTIN, Texas, March 16, 2020 (Newswire.com) - ​Upgraded Points in their latest data study, has looked at consumer shopping patterns to determine what specific items in the germ-fighting / anti-germ category are of greatest interest throughout the U.S.

Analysis Methodology

For this study, data was compiled from Google Shopping, looking at search queries from March 2-9, 2020. An analysis and ranking was performed on 9 different search terms that indicated user intent to locate shopping items that would help in fighting germs.

The search term with the highest amount of searcher interest was judged to be the most searched item.

Alex Miller, founder of Upgraded Points, stated for the media, "For weeks now we have been watching the reports of the Coronavirus outbreak overseas, throughout Asia and the European Union. With an increasing number of cases being reported here in the United States as well, public attention is quickly ratcheting up. We are certainly noting the growing disruption in the travel industry as well, and wanted to get some insight as to what items people are shopping for to combat this pandemic.

While the World Health Organization has released detailed guidance on combating the Coronavirus, we wondered if people's shopping interests in this regard were being informed by official government sources, or if panic and anxiety were overriding rationality."

For a fuller discussion, as well as detailed graphics and interactive charts, please visit the full report here.

Most Popular U. S. Germ-Fighting Shopping Items By State

For this data study, a total of 9 items which people search for were ranked by popularity. Of those 9 items, 8 of them were the number-one searched for item in at least one state.

The items most searched for in the germ-fighting / anti-germ category were:

·      Hand Sanitizer - 18 States

·      Germ Masks - 9 States

·      Antibacterial Soap - 7 States

·      N95 Masks - 6 States

·      Clorox Wipes -6 States

·      Disinfecting Spray - 3 States

·      Lysol Wipes - 2 States

A Study in Rationality vs. Panic-Buying

The results of this study confirm that in many locations, people are not heeding government recommendations -- especially in two areas:

First, public health officials have repeatedly stressed that the best way to kill germs is through thorough hand-washing procedures. Nevertheless, there has been a store-emptying panic buy of hand sanitizers throughout the country, confirmed by the fact that the number one search in 18 states is for hand sanitizers.

Secondly, government officials have frankly admitted that germ masks, and specifically N95 masks are not effective in combating Coronavirus for most people, but should be reserved for use by persons caring for the sick, or those sick with the virus themselves, to limit the amount of germs that they spread to others. Yet, "germ masks" are the number one search in 9 states, and "N95 masks" rank in first place in searches in 6 sites.

Source: Upgraded Points