The strike of the dock workers on the East Coast of the United States, which lasted three days, came to an end on October 3rd, sparking a wave of panic buying. Many people flocked to large shopping malls in recent days, resulting in a shortage of toilet paper and empty shelves in some stores. However, it is worth noting that 99% of toilet paper in the United States is domestically produced, not reliant on imports. Some residents mentioned that they are not concerned about shortages but about potential price hikes. Others attributed the panic buying to worries beyond just the strike.
The spread of rumors on social media about “toilet paper shortages at certain supermarkets” has heightened people’s purchasing desires. Mr. Liu, responsible for restaurant supplies procurement, shared in an interview that he visited two Costco stores in New Jersey yesterday only to find his usual brand of toilet paper out of stock. Kitchen paper towel shelves were also empty, prompting him to purchase all the remaining disposable paper plates on the shelves.
He observed that while some Westerners were calmly buying in bulk, many Chinese residents were anxiously grabbing essential items like toilet paper off the shelves.
Ms. Li, a resident of New York, mentioned in an interview that she heard everyone was stocking up on toilet paper. Due to work commitments, she couldn’t personally visit the supermarket, so she checked the Sam’s Club website to find that the toilet paper she wanted was already sold out. She expressed that while initially unaffected by the dock workers’ strike, the rapid developments in the past two days urged her to prepare a shopping list and plan to buy non-perishable food items over the weekend.
Yesterday, Jack, a Chinese resident, went to a Costco supermarket in Long Island to buy bottled water. He noticed that a 24-bottle pack of water was unexpectedly $1.5 cheaper, attracting more shoppers, including himself purchasing six large packs. As the supermarket is closer to the Chinese community and schools are on break, the place was packed with customers, leading to long waiting times for checkout.
He noted an increase in Westerners joining the buying spree, with some filling their carts with multiple 1-gallon jugs of water.
While 99% of toilet paper in the U.S. is domestically produced, relying on local sources, some Chinese residents believe the scarcity of goods is not solely due to the strike but rather reflects people’s efforts to alleviate uncertainties by stockpiling essential items.
Ms. Li emphasized in the interview that toilet paper is indispensable, and even if reliant on cars for transportation, buying after a price hike would be uneconomical. She also expressed concerns about the current economic situation potentially prolonging, prompting her to store more daily essentials for a sense of security.
Jack, who moved from mainland China to the U.S. a few years ago, believes the frenzy in buying toilet paper serves as a psychological comfort, akin to how Chinese people frantically bought salt during concerns about Japanese nuclear radiation.
Regarding the impact of the dock workers’ strike on commodity prices, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, in a statement on October 3rd, mentioned closely monitoring price gouging issues, warning all commercial companies against profiteering from working-class families at this time. The state government will continue to coordinate closely to ensure medical facilities and grocery stores statewide have access to crucial supplies.
Feedback indicates the panic buying primarily occurred at large warehouse-style shopping centers frequented by Chinese residents, with organic food-focused stores like Whole Foods not experiencing similar rushes. Predictions suggest local hoarding may continue, as some Chinese residents had already been concerned about social instability before the strike and started stocking emergency supplies. Mrs. Sun in Queens mentioned purchasing fruits, canned vegetables, and gas canisters a month ahead, while Mrs. Wang in Manhattan already bought solar charging panels online for herself and friends in preparation for emergencies.