Right there is a huge part of the shortage problem. Factories weren’t ready for the sudden prepping purchases. The tp shortage started the rush.
Absolutely, everyone should have a few months of food put back for any number of emergencies - any illness or health problem that limits your ability to shop, unemployment, any financial problem, etc. But in today’s world, people were used to shopping daily or weekly so they only purchased what they needed. Many people never had anything but restaurant take home in their fridges and their ovens had never been used.
Combine the sudden uptick in purchases with employee shortages (covid, paid not to work and early retirements) and it’s another Houston, we have a problem.
This evening I went over to the local WalMart to get a few things. I got 3 boxes of Bow Tie pasta. The entire pasta row was decimated but I did get my 3 boxes.
Next I was looking for a small container of plain yogurt. Had to settle for a large container. Ditto for the Yogurt selection which was terrible.
I bought 1 can of canned chicken for the bunker and 4 cans of vegetable and beef soup. Still not much vegetable soup in that store.
I wanted to get a bottle of mild ring peppers. Only about 8 feet total of pickles, olives and peppers, really terrible.
Maybe about 10 green bell peppers in the entire store and I bought the absolute last package of fresh boneless chicken breasts. Finally picked up a box 10 pc Great Value breaded fish fillets and a gallon of Turkey Hill ice cream, the price of which was up 50 cents from last week. Ice cream selection was poor also.
Overall lots of bare shelves or shelves with holes on them.