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74 million Americans prepping for disaster

US preppers spent $11 billion on emergency preparedness in the last year.

Prepping is big business, with roughly a third (29%) of the adult population in the US dropping a collective $11 billion in the last 12 months on emergency preparedness, according to a Finder survey.

The most commonly bought survivalist items are literally the basics: food and water. About one in five (21%) Americans says they bought staples. After the run on toilet paper during the pandemic, it’s little surprise that this creature comfort is the second most commonly purchased item at 15%. Rounding out the top three most popular items with survivalists are medical supplies at 14%.

As for where people are “spending” the most, the average prepper put $1,057 into a savings account. The next most costly survivalist category was home renovations at $580, followed by a stash of cash at $468.

Men more likely to be preppers

More than a third of men (35%) say they spent money preparing for emergencies (or for when SHTF) in the last 12 months, compared to less than a quarter (23%) of women.

Men (13%) are more than twice as likely as women (6%) to say they have a stash of cash and three times as likely to have invested in home renovations (men at 12% vs. women at 4%).

Gen Z most likely to be preparing for disaster

Two-fifths (40%) of Gen Z say they spent money on doomsday supplies in the last 12 months, just beating out millennials at 39%.

Food and water are the most commonly bought items for all generations. Survival kits are most popular with millennials (20%), while toilet paper if most popular with Gen Z (20%).

About a third of those in the West prepping

The West is home to the most preppers at 32%, narrowly beating out the South at 31%.

Almost one in five (18%) people in the South are stockpiling toilet paper, while 17% in the West are buying medical supplies.

Previous surveys

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For all media inquiries, please contact:

Richard Laycock, Insights editor and senior content marketing manager

E: uspr@finder.com

/in/richardlaycock/ /aleksvee/

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2 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    ChesneySeptember 23, 2018

    when was this survey done? :) The year itself will do

      Default Gravatar
      nikkiangcoSeptember 24, 2018

      Hi Chesney,

      Thanks for your inquiry and for visiting finder.

      The survey was done in October 2017.

      Hope this helps! Feel free to message us again should you have further questions.

      Regards.
      Nikki

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