American consumers let the shopping impulse go free in the past few months with impulse spending spiking 18% during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The average U.S. consumer, according to a Slickdeals survey conducted by OnePoll, is spending an average of $182.98 each month — a healthy spike from $155.03 this past January, according to a press release. The survey polled 2,000 Americans.

Those polled reported that buying something impulsively during the pandemic has impacted their mood. One in four report buying a treat for themselves, 22% have bought clothing and 18% spent on home improvement.

“In these uncertain times, consumers are looking to stretch their dollars even further, and impulse purchasing can actually serve as a tool to do so,” said Slickdeals CEO Josh Meyers in the release.  “While someone may not plan to buy laundry detergent or groceries on a given day, stocking up on these everyday items when there’s a great deal available can help your budget. As such, impulse spending can be associated with saving money in the long-run as opposed to being wasteful.”

Since the pandemic began, 46 % have ordered online groceries for the first time, and 35% report being a first-time customer with a restaurant delivery app. Nearly three in four (71 percent) said they plan to continue the increased rate of online shopping even after the stay-at-home order is lifted for them.

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