US Shoppers Are Panic-buying Toilet Paper, Emptying Store Shelves as COVID-19 Surges

According to various media sources including the Washington Post and ABC Action News, consumers are panic-buying key items again as the Coronavirus surges across the country — paper towels, disinfecting wipes, baking mixes and wine — but this time around, grocery chains and food manufacturers say they will be able to meet America’s urge to hoard and keep supply chains moving, even during the holiday season.

While some grocery chains have reinstated limits on high-demand items such as paper goods and disinfecting wipes, causing anxiety among shoppers, retailers and supply chain experts say they do not expect a return to the panicked hoarding and empty shelves of the spring.

“I’m not going to be a Pollyanna and say things are perfect,” says Geoff Freeman, the chief executive of the trade group Consumer Brands Association. “But we are fundamentally in a different place than we were in March and April. Even retailers rationing is a demonstration of lessons learned. The psychology of empty shelves causes a vicious cycle.”

Other media outlets such as the Columbus Dispatch, York Daily Record and Cincinnati Enquirer report that US retailers again are capping toilet paper purchases as COVID-19 cases rise.

Kroger and Target have capped the purchase of some household staples including toilet paper as COVID-19 cases and jitters over new potential stay-at-home orders climb.

Kroger, the Cincinnati-based supermarket operator, said it implemented limits to be proactive, adding it hasn't seen a jump in demand for key staples including paper towels, disinfecting wipes and hand soap. The company said there haven't been any difficulties with supply either.

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