Panic buying

Panic buying (alternatively hyphenated as panic-buying; also known as panic purchasing) occurs when consumers buy unusually large amounts of a product in anticipation of, or after, a disaster or perceived disaster, or in anticipation of a large price increase, or shortage.

Panic buying during various health crises is influenced by "(1) individuals' perception of the threat of a health crisis and scarcity of products; (2) fear of the unknown, which is caused by emotional pressure and uncertainty; (3) coping behaviour, which views panic buying as a venue to relieve anxiety and regain control over the crisis; and (4) social psychological factors, which account for the influence of the social network of an individual".^[1]

Panic buying is a type of herd behavior.^[2] It is of interest in consumer behavior theory, the broad field of economic study dealing with explanations for "collective action such as fads and fashions, stock market movements, runs on nondurable goods, buying sprees, hoarding, and banking panics".^[3]

Panic buying can lead to genuine shortages regardless of whether the risk of a shortage is real or perceived; the latter scenario is an example of self-fulfilling prophecy.^[4]

The (1914-1918)^[5]^[6]^[7] and Second World Wars (1939-1945).^[8]^[9]^[10]

First

The ("Spanish flu") led to the panic buying of quinine and other remedies for influenza and its symptoms from pharmacists and doctors' surgeries.^[11] Sales of Vicks VapoRub increased from $900,000 to $2.9 million in a year.^[12]

1918–1919 global influenza pandemic

In the in 1922, hyperinflation and the rapid depreciation of the Austrian krone led to panic buying and food hoarding, which continued until a rescue backed by the League of Nations prevented an economic collapse.^[13]

First Austrian Republic

.^[14]

Bengal famine of 1943

1962 led to panic buying of canned foods in the United States.^[15]

Cuban Missile Crisis

The in the United States.^[16]

1973 toilet paper panic

The led to panic buying of oil, led by Japan.^[17]

1979 oil crisis

The 1985 arrival of led many consumers to panic buy the original Coke.^[18]^[19]

New Coke

– food.^[20]^[21]

Year 2000 problem

2001 – panic buying of metals, gold and oil on international following the September 11 attacks.^[22]

commodity markets

Between January and February 2003, during the , several rounds of panic buying of various products (including salt, rice, vinegar, vegetable oil, antibiotics, face masks, and traditional Chinese medicine) took place in the Chinese province of Guangdong and in neighboring areas such as Hainan and Hong Kong.^[23]

SARS outbreak

2000 and 2005 .^[24]^[25]

UK fuel protests

– water, food.^[26]

2005 Jilin chemical plant explosions

– panic buying by gun owners who feared tougher gun control laws under President Barack Obama was one cause of ammunition shortages.^[27]^[28]

2008–2016 United States ammunition shortage

In September 2013 during the , the Venezuelan government temporarily took over the Aragua-based Paper Manufacturing Company toilet paper plant to manage the "production, marketing and distribution" of toilet paper following months of depleted stocks of basic goods—including toilet paper—and foodstuffs, such as rice and cooking oil. Blame for the shortages was placed on "ill-conceived government policies such as price controls on basic goods and tight restrictions on foreign currency" and hoarding.^[29]

Venezuelan economic crisis

– Amid decreased support before the 2013 Venezuelan municipal elections, Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro announced the military occupation of stores on 8 November 2013, proclaiming "Leave nothing on the shelves!"^[30] The announcement of lowered prices sparked looting in multiple cities across Venezuela.^[31] By the end of the Dakazo, many Venezuelan stores were left empty of their goods.^[30] A year later in November 2014, some stores still remained empty following the Dakazo.^[30]

Dakazo

In September 2021, led to empty fuel filling stations across the United Kingdom. A lack of tanker drivers was blamed, with Brexit being the primary cause according to most Road Haulage Association respondents.^[32]

panic buying of petrol

In November 2021, panic buying of groceries took place in the and Fraser Valley owing to the impacts of the 2021 Pacific Northwest floods.^[33]

British Columbia Interior

On March 3, 2022, panic buying of kit furniture and home appliances occurred in Russia due to the company's decision to close their 17 Russian stores in light of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Extensive queues were reported in IKEA's Moscow and Saint Petersburg stores, and customers attempted to enter from the exit doors when entrance doors were closed.^[34]

IKEA

In May 2023, the Malaysian states of and Kedah experienced panic buying of bottled water due to an interruption in tap water supply lasting less than 24 hours.^[35]

Penang

In Aug 2023, after the , people in China began panic buying salts and radiation detectors because of the public anxiety towards the radioactive water released.^[36]^[37]

discharge of radioactive water of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

A United States propaganda poster in World War II showing the effects of panic buying goods

Shoppers at a Wal-Mart in Mexico City panic buying canned food during the 2009 flu pandemic

Venezuelans grabbing for items during the Dakazo, an event of the crisis in Venezuela

Shoppers in London panic buying canned food and toilet paper during the COVID-19 pandemic

Panic buying at the Giant supermarket in Franklin Farm, Virginia, during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020