Mike Spector

NEW YORK, Reuters – While it is too soon to know how Omicron coronavirus will affect consumer spending this holiday season, a senior executive at Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ) suggested that consumers will continue shopping for the time being.

“It’s very early in the process of understanding what’s happening with the new variant,” said Dave Clark, chief executive of Amazon’s worldwide consumer business, during a Sunday morning interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

Clark expressed optimism about scientists’ and pharmaceutical companies’ ability to create effective vaccines that will respond to this new variant. Shoppers can also take stock of the developments.

Clark stated that consumers will wait to see what happens, but they are ready to get on with their lives during this holiday season.

Clark made these comments amid recent disruptions in supply chains that the Biden administration has linked with the spread of Delta, a coronavirus variant.

Following the spread of Omicron, which was first identified in South Africa and now being seen worldwide, travel restrictions have been imposed by the United States as well as other countries. According to Dutch authorities, 13 cases of Omicron were discovered in passengers who landed on Friday from South Africa.

In recent times, cases have been reported in Australia, Denmark, and Britain. Health experts say the variant is possible, even though there are no cases reported in the United States.

Clark stated that consumers are now resuming their lives after long periods of lockdowns or other restrictions due to the pandemic.

People want to spend a thoughtful holiday season, and they want to be prepared to return to the real world. And that’s what we’re seeing in their spending,” Clark said.

He also stated that the pandemic caused people to rethink how they live and work. This led to challenges in hiring.

Clark stated that people are starting to see their lives differently because of the pandemic. People have reassessed what type of job they would like to do. Do they want to be a foodservice worker, a retail salesperson, or do they desire fulfillment? Are both spouses interested in working? What’s the life structure and setup?”

He said that Amazon had hired workers during this current shortage of labor, but it was still a difficult task.

Clark indicated that inflation isn’t presently reducing consumer spending. He said Amazon experienced a “record breaking Black Friday.”

According to him, shoppers spend more on home and apparel, which is a sign they want to get back together. He said that electronics spending has dropped since people have invested in remote offices.