Tasmanian retail sales were steady in February, just before toilet paper panic buying changed the equation.
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Even so, supermarket sales strengthened by $2.7 million to $226.1 million, seasonally adjusted Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates suggested.
Total retail turnover was unchanged at $575.7 million.
National spending increased by 0.5 per cent.
"Retailers reported a range of impacts from COVID-19 in February, with increases in food retailing slightly offset by falls in more discretionary spending," the ABS' Ben James said..
"There were rises for food retailing (0.8 per cent), department stores (3.1 per cent), household goods retailing (0.7 per cent), cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (0.2 per cent) and other retailing (0.2 per cent).
"These rises were partially offset by a fall in clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (2.9 per cent).
The ABS said the increase in food retailing sales was supported by extra analysis done to improve understanding of the economic effects of COVID-19.
That showed significant rises in supermarket purchases in February, especially of essential grocery items.
"Select businesses, especially in the supermarket and grocery stores and pharmaceutical, cosmetic and toiletry goods retailing subgroups, saw an increase in turnover related to the virus," it said.
"As part of the ABS commitment to understand the economic impact of COVID-19, the ABS has used scanner data to conduct analysis on supermarket and grocery store spending ...
" ... retail turnover for discretionary and non-discretionary grocery spending increased by 6.1 per cent and 9.4 per cent respectively in February 2020 compared to February 2019."
