What's behind the run on toilet paper? Not what you might think

4 months ago 2

PROTECTING BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITIES. GUIN CHARI. ALL RIGHT, JOHN, THANKS. WELL, EMPTY STORE SHELVES STARTING TO LOOK LIKE A REPEAT OF 2020 WITH STORES RUNNING OUT OF TOILET PAPER AND OTHER PAPER PRODUCTS. WVTM 13 S LISA CRANE IS LIVE IN HOMEWOOD TONIGHT. LISA, WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE PANIC BUYING? WELL, THAT’S A GREAT QUESTION. AND IT’S A QUESTION MANY OF THE SHOPPERS I SPOKE WITH TODAY ARE ALSO ASKING RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THIS IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND. IT’S BECAUSE SO MANY SHOPPERS ARE ACTUALLY STOCKING UP ON TOILET PAPER, FEARING THE DOCKWORKERS STRIKE COULD CREATE A SHORTAGE. WE VISITED STORE AFTER STORE AFTER STORE TODAY ON THE HUNT FOR TOILET PAPER, SOME SHELVES WERE COMPLETELY WIPED OUT. OTHERS WERE SPARSE, LEAVING SOME SHOPPERS SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS. I THINK IT’S RIDICULOUS. THERE’S NO REASON TO RUN FOR TOILET PAPER BECAUSE I MEAN, TOILET PAPER IS MADE HERE. I MEAN, IT’S IT COMES FROM TREES. HE’S RIGHT. 90% OF THE U.S. TOILET PAPER SUPPLY IS MADE HERE IN THIS COUNTRY. BUT PANIC BUYERS MAY BE REMEMBERING THE TP SHORTAGE DURING THE PANDEMIC. BACK THEN, YOU COULD GO IN THERE AND IT WOULD BE EMPTY AND I DON’T SEE THE NEED IN TAKING ALL OF IT WHERE PEOPLE CAN’T SHARE. I MEAN, IT DOESN’T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME IF THE DOCKWORKERS STRIKE CONTINUES, WE MAY SEE SOME SHORTAGES, BUT NOT IN TOILET PAPER. EXPERTS SAY CHOCOLATE PRODUCE AND ALCOHOL ARE AMONG THE IMPORTS THAT MAY BE IN SHORT SUPPLY. WELL, I DON’T DRINK SO I’LL BE ALL RIGHT WITHOUT ALCOHOL. BUT BATHROOM TISSUE IS CERTAINLY BE A KIND OF A NECESSITY. YES. WE REACHED OUT TO GROCERS ABOUT THE STRIKE. OFFICIALS AT PUBLIX SENT A STATEMENT SAYING IN PART, WHILE WE HAVE CURRENTLY NOT INSTITUTED PURCHASING LIMITS ON CERTAIN ITEMS, WE MAY IN THE FUTURE TO ASSIST IN INVENTORY LEVELS STABILIZING TO AVOID THOSE LIMITATIONS. WHEN IT COMES TO TOILET PAPER, WE SHOULD ALL FOLLOW THIS SHOPPER’S LEAD. I GET MY TOILET PAPER ONE PACKAGE AT A TIME, AND I’M GOING TO CONTINUE TO GET MY TOILET PAPER ONE PACKAGE AT A TIME. THERE’S NO REASON FOR ME TO GET IT MORE NOW. PRODUCE IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT COULD BE AFFECTED BY A LENGTHY DOCK WORKER STRIKE, AND SPECIFICALLY, BANANAS HAVE BEEN MENTIONED BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE BANANA SOLD IN THIS COUNTRY IS ACTUALLY IMPORTED, AND THESE HAVE A PRETTY SHORT SHELF LIFE. SO IF WE WERE TO SEE THAT STRIKE LINGER ON, WE MIGHT SEE A LACK OF BANAN

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What's behind the run on toilet paper? Not what you might think

We’re seeing empty store shelves in many stores, which is starting to look like a repeat of 2020. Some stores are running out of toilet paper and other paper products. Shoppers say it’s becoming more and more difficult to find toilet paper because so many people are stocking up, fearing the dock workers strike could create a shortage.We visited store, after store, after store on the hunt for toilet paper. Some shelves were completely wiped out, others were sparse, leaving some shoppers scratching their heads.Adam Blankenship from Warrior said, “I think it's ridiculous. There's no reason to run for toilet paper because, I mean, toilet paper is made here. I mean, it comes from trees.” He's right. About 90% of the U.S. toilet paper supply is made here in this country. But panic buyers may be remembering the t-p shortage during the pandemic. “Back then, you could go in there and it would be empty. And I don't see the need in taking all of it where people can share. I mean, it doesn't make any sense to me," Mary Jane Hudson of Warrior said.If the dock workers' strike continues, we may see some shortages, but not in toilet paper. Experts say chocolate, produce and alcohol are among the imports that could be in short supply. Fred Porter of Hanceville said, “Well, I don't drink, so I’ll be all right without alcohol. But bathroom tissue…” He agreed, it’s a necessity."We reached out to grocers about the strike. Officials at Publix sent a statement saying in part, "While we have currently not instituted purchasing limits on certain items, we may in the future to assist in inventory levels stabilizing."To avoid those limitations, when it comes to toilet paper, we should all follow Blankenship’s lead. “I get my toilet paper one package at a time. I’m going to continue to get my toilet paper one package at a time. There's no reason for me to get it more," he said.Produce is one of the imports that could be affected by a lengthy dockworkers strike. Bananas have been specifically mentioned because 100% of the bananas sold in this country are imported.

HOMEWOOD, Ala. —

We visited store, after store, after store on the hunt for toilet paper. Some shelves were completely wiped out, others were sparse, leaving some shoppers scratching their heads.

Adam Blankenship from Warrior said, “I think it's ridiculous. There's no reason to run for toilet paper because, I mean, toilet paper is made here. I mean, it comes from trees.”

He's right. About 90% of the U.S. toilet paper supply is made here in this country. But panic buyers may be remembering the t-p shortage during the pandemic.

“Back then, you could go in there and it would be empty. And I don't see the need in taking all of it where people can share. I mean, it doesn't make any sense to me," Mary Jane Hudson of Warrior said.

If the dock workers' strike continues, we may see some shortages, but not in toilet paper. Experts say chocolate, produce and alcohol are among the imports that could be in short supply.

Fred Porter of Hanceville said, “Well, I don't drink, so I’ll be all right without alcohol. But bathroom tissue…” He agreed, it’s a necessity."

We reached out to grocers about the strike. Officials at Publix sent a statement saying in part, "While we have currently not instituted purchasing limits on certain items, we may in the future to assist in inventory levels stabilizing."

To avoid those limitations, when it comes to toilet paper, we should all follow Blankenship’s lead. “I get my toilet paper one package at a time. I’m going to continue to get my toilet paper one package at a time. There's no reason for me to get it more," he said.

Produce is one of the imports that could be affected by a lengthy dockworkers strike. Bananas have been specifically mentioned because 100% of the bananas sold in this country are imported.

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