Cyclone Ditwah disaster: Impact on consumption patterns

Understanding the consumption response to natural disasters is important for increasing the resilience of the economy to extreme weather events. Natural disasters like floods, droughts and wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense globally. Natural disasters typically weaken the economy by disrupting supply chains, reducing incomes, and lowering consumer confidence, altering daily life causing households to cut spending and slowing recovery. Yet early signals from Sri Lanka’s current disaster suggest a different pattern may be emerging. Rather than a prolonged collapse in consumption, extensive targeted Government support for the affected people may smooth the disrupted consumption, potentially resulting in consumption levels similar to or even higher than before

Learnings from the Chennai flood in 2015 

2015 December Chennai floods offer a useful comparison to the Sri Lankan case. Extreme Northeast Monsoon rains, devastated the city with massive waterlogging, displacing millions, causing over 400 deaths, and resulting in billions in economic losses (est. $3.5B+) due to infrastructure failure, overflowing rivers, disrupted transport (flooded airport, halted trains) and severe power cuts. 

 A study on the Chennai flood’s impact on consumption shows that households typically face two main effects after a disaster.The first is an income shock, as people lose earnings due to damaged workplaces, crops, or businesses. The second is a price shock, with prices of goods rising because supply chains are disrupted and essentials become scarce. Both effects can significantly strain household consumption and recovery.

 The study estimates that household consumption fell by about 11% during the disaster period, with only 65% of this loss recovered after the flood. Recovery was slow and incomplete; even months later, spending remained roughly 4% below pre-flood levels. Families prioritised repairing homes and rebuilding savings over increasing consumption.

Impact depends on who is affected

Sri Lanka seems better positioned to mitigate the income effect for two main reasons: who was affected and how were they compensated. First, the disaster has not hit the economy evenly. Roughly one-fifth of the population has been affected, and more than two-thirds of them come from low-income households at the bottom of the income distribution. While the social and humanitarian impact on these communities is severe, their contribution to total national consumption is relatively small. The bottom 40% contributes a much smaller share of overall consumption (likely around 15% or slightly higher).As a result, the shock to aggregate consumption is smaller than if it was a consumption-heavy, urban household. Secondly, the Government’s fiscal response has been unusually strong. The Treasury has already released more than LKR 13 billion in cash transfers to affected families. For many households, this money is not simply relief assistance. It effectively acts as temporary access to liquidity at a time when incomes are disrupted. These transfers effectively act as an additional line of credit, providing households with the means to boost consumption.

Extent of Price Shock and Income Shock  

In the aftermath of the disaster, a price shock was expected, as damage to agricultural districts could significantly raise prices of fruits, vegetables, and other produce. So far, the impact/shock has been minimal, and the full effect is likely to be seen only by February or March, at the end of the Maha season. Efforts are underway to restore affected production, including providing adequate support to farmers. 

On the other hand, income related impacts on the affected households are higher than the price impact. It can be expected that the planned Government transfers will smooth the disrupted consumption, potentially resulting in similar or even higher spending across categories and brands. 

Spending, not saving

Traditional economic models suggest that people save unexpected income or transfers. But evidence from developing countries shows this does not hold true for households that are cash constrained. Low-income families tend to spend most of what they receive because they have unmet needs and the need for smooth consumption over time.

In Sri Lanka’s case, this means the cash transfers are likely to flow quickly back into the economy. Households use the money to replace lost goods, repair damage, and meet daily expenses. Instead of delaying spending, they spend immediately because they have little choice.

The possibility of a rebound

Volunteer groups, NGOs, and community organisations are covering much of the immediate clean-up and reconstruction work. This support reduces the pressure on households to use Government transfers solely for survival. As a result, spending may recover along two paths. Basic consumption is likely to normalise quickly and could even exceed pre-disaster levels as families replace food stocks, household items, and clothing lost during the disaster. At the same time, there may be modest increases in certain discretionary categories. Research on unconditional cash transfers shows that once basic needs are secured, households often resume spending on non-durable goods and small assets as they regain stability.

Conclusion

The human cost of the recent disaster in Sri Lanka is unquestionable. Lives have been disrupted, and recovery at the household level will take time. However, the wider economic impact may be less damaging than initially feared. Targeted cash transfers, combined with the income profile of the affected population, appear to be smoothing the fall in consumption. If this pattern continues, Sri Lanka could offer an important lesson for disaster response policy. Timely and substantial cash support does more than provide relief. It helps stabilise spending, supports local markets, and reduces the risk of a broader economic slowdown.

(The author is a market research specialist. He also serves as the President of the Market Research Association of Sri Lanka)