Today in History"
NEW YORK (MAR 13, 2020) — As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the United States in March 2020, an unexpected crisis unfolded in grocery stores and supermarkets nationwide: a severe shortage of toilet paper. Panic buying and supply chain disruptions left shelves empty, prompting concern, confusion, and at times, conflict among shoppers.
The shortage, fueled by fears of prolonged lockdowns and supply interruptions, saw consumers rushing to stockpile essential goods. Retailers struggled to keep up with demand as manufacturers worked around the clock to replenish inventory.
Images and videos of customers hoarding toilet paper, sometimes filling multiple carts, quickly went viral on social media. Reports of altercations in store aisles emerged, with some shoppers resorting to reselling toilet paper at marked-up prices online.
Supply chain experts pointed to a combination of panic-driven purchasing and shifts in consumer behavior as key factors. With more people staying home, demand surged while commercial supply chains—geared toward businesses and institutions—failed to adjust quickly.
Toilet paper manufacturers ramped up production, but the industry’s just-in-time inventory model left little room for rapid response. The situation gradually stabilized as retailers implemented purchase limits and supply chains adapted to new consumer patterns.
By late spring, stores began to recover, though some areas continued to experience sporadic shortages. The toilet paper crisis of 2020 became a defining symbol of the early days of the pandemic, highlighting the fragility of supply chains and the power of consumer psychology in times of uncertainty.
