Firearm Sales Soared in March When U.S. Coronavirus Cases Surged

Firearm sales in the U.S. soared in March as the coronavirus pandemic gripped the country.

Unit sales topped an estimated 2.5 million, up 85.3% year-over-year, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Gun sales aren’t tracked in the U.S., but the FBI system is largely considered a proxy for sales by the firearms industry. The data is adjusted to exclude concealed carry background checks.