Easter & Passover
Simbe Index
When everyone shops for the same holiday moment, shelves feel it first and fast.
The Simbe Index tracks what happens inside of stores when shopper demand peaks—from what runs out to how long it takes to recover.
Powered by over 45 billion shelf images captured globally, the Simbe Index sits at the intersection of consumer behavior, store execution, and cultural retail moments, offering a clear pulse on how shopping unfolds.
As the holidays approached, trips became more targeted and product availability less predictable. Average out-of-stock (OOS) levels more than doubled from a pre-holiday baseline of 3.8% to 8.3% during the holiday surge.
The Spring Holiday Shopping Squeeze
Every spring, millions of families plan for the same holiday moments, prepping meals, setting tables, and getting their homes ready for guests.
Easter and Passover often overlap and share a shopping list. As holiday demand builds, staples, seasonal items, and hosting essentials all sell at once.
This year, the Simbe Index reveals that Easter and Passover shopping started earlier, lasted longer, and extended beyond food into categories like floral and home.
We analyzed the two-week period leading up to Easter and Passover in 2025 and 2026.
How Do Shoppers Prepare for Easter and Passover?
Shoppers got a head start
Holiday prep began earlier than expected. By the time shoppers started ticking items off their lists, shelf availability was already tightening.
Demand stayed consistent
Easter and Passover demand did not have a single spike. Once availability dropped, it remained constrained across the full shopping window.
Availability became less predictable
In 2025, egg availability tightened. In 2026, meat supply shaped the main dish. At the same time, shoppers bought earlier, pulling demand forward.
Where the Trends Show Up
Eggs
Eggs sit at the center of Easter and Passover traditions, from dyed eggshells to Seder plates. Demand stayed high from the start of the shopping window through the holiday, and items began going out of stock earlier than expected. However, retailers responded with faster restocking this year, helping offset earlier demand.
4.5% OOS
by April 7, 2025
5.0% OOS
on Easter Sunday 2025
4.8% OOS
by April 3, 2026
45% restock rate
in 2026, reflecting improved response to early demand
Proteins
For many households, the holiday meal starts with the main dish. Lamb, chicken, and other proteins were among the first items that shoppers purchased, which impacted on-shelf availability well before the holiday.
5.1% turkey OOS
by April 13, 2025, a full week before Easter
4.5% lamb OOS
by April 13, 2025
6.6% prepared meat OOS
by April 3, 2026
Baking & Candy
Baking items and candy sold early, as shoppers prepared Easter baskets and Passover desserts. By the time the holiday weekend arrived, many key ingredients and sweets were already low or out-of-stock.
3.5% extract OOS
by April 9, 2025
5.2% baking chocolate OOS
by April 20, 2025
5.9% baking milk OOS
by April 5, 2026
Seasonal & Hosting
Seasonal and hosting items are often left until the last minute and many were out of stock before the holiday. Shoppers who waited had fewer options. Demand also showed how people prepared their homes for guests.
5.5% gift wrap & basket OOS
by April 13, 2025
6.2% storage & organization OOS
by April 20, 2025
6.7% furniture OOS
by April 5, 2026
Dairy
Dairy played a key role in last-minute meal preparation. As shoppers finalized their plans, demand concentrated in the final days.
9.0% cottage cheese OOS
by April 8, 2025
4.5% half & half OOS
by April 15, 2025
6.5% plant-based milk OOS
by April 2, 2026
Flowers & Plants
Holiday hosting and spring gifting came together in the floral aisle. Shoppers looking for centerpieces or seasonal touches encountered similar availability patterns to core grocery items.
6.0% floral OOS
by April 17, 2025
6.8% plant OOS
by April 20, 2025
42.3% restock rate
In 2026, retailers reduced floral OOS by over half
Lawn & Garden
One of the most unexpected signals came from lawn and garden. Spring planting overlapped with holiday preparation, creating additional demand.
6.8% nursery OOS
by April 20, 2025
6.3% outdoor equipment OOS
by April 21, 2025
9.4% nursery OOS
by April 5, 2026
What This Tells Us
Spring holiday shopping is starting earlier, lasting longer, and showing up across more of the store than expected. What used to be separate trips, for meals, hosting, and home prep, is now one connected moment.
Check back each quarter for the latest insights.
