I believe it is the first item REPORTED running out because it can’t be concealed from tourists (that are about to tell the world as soon as they leave anyway).
Socialists measure success by the price of toilet paper.
I remember the stories coming out about the availability of groceries in stores in the Soviet Union, especially the availability of toilet paper. Soon after that, Reagan said, "Tear down this wall".
They’ve always had a tp shortage in Cuba. Every hotel, restaurant, bar you go in has a woman or man sitting right inside the door at a card table. They’ll sell you 5 squares for $1. There’s no tp in any of the stalls. There’s a huge, newer, really nice hotel there. Can’t remember the name but they were the only place that had American style stalls with tp in them.