Abstract
This study analyzes shifts in eating-out behavior during and after COVID-19 using consumer purchase-history data. To assess whether these changes proved temporary or lasting, we categorized individuals by their annual share of food expenditures. We focus on individuals with high shares of food expenditures devoted to eating out and tracked their behavior. The findings indicate that some consumers returned to their previous dining patterns once restrictions ended, while others continued to avoid eating out. These variations suggest that COVID-19 reshaped eating-out behavior in uneven ways, with its effects varying in duration across individuals.
