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Panic buying next week?

195 replies

hubbabubbamomma · 25/09/2026 20:42

Ok very random but I work in retail and we’ve been told to expect panic buying/shortages on fuel next week due to something big happening. Am I really naive as when I was told this I have no idea what it is about? I do read the news in the morning but I haven’t seen anything that would relate to this?

OP posts:
EstoyRobandoSuCasa · Yesterday 00:11

Fireybricks · Yesterday 00:08

Until reading this thread I hadn’t actually realised that yeah if diesel runs out, and haulage companies can’t get goods to shops and people can’t get around, it will be really useful to have a little stockpile of food!

It's generally a good idea to have a few tins in the cupboard or a few meals in the freezer. We ate some of our Brexit stockpile during Covid.

XenoBitch · Yesterday 00:18

TheDorisCollective · 25/09/2026 23:17

It’ll be like that time Delia did a recipes on tv with fresh cranberries and you then couldn’t buy them for love or money.

I could not buy tinned sardine for ages. Turns out some Tik Tok folks were promoting them as cheap healthy protein.

Pearlyb · Yesterday 00:34

ForeverTheOptomist · 25/09/2026 21:39

I've just posted re El Nino. Massive concerns regarding climate change and severe global warming. The news is full of it - just type el nino into google and chose which reports you'd like to read ... or indeed not. Here's one from the Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/sep/24/the-guardian-view-on-a-supersized-el-nino-a-natural-phenomenon-and-human-folly-are-a-lethal-combination

And to those yelling 'scaremongering', yup, it's very, very scary.

Oh my lord. El niño is not something that will "happen next week", it's a slow phenomenon and the impacts take many months to filter through. Also the direct impact on the UK won't be that severe - yes your coffee and chokkies probably go up in price, but in here there's no need to start stockpiling water, tins, batteries or bog roll because of it.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/impacts-of-el-nino-on-the-uk/impacts-of-el-nino-on-the-uk

realsavagelike · Yesterday 01:05

Mansionscoldandgrey · 25/09/2026 21:21

Aliens are going to land on Tuesday afternoon and use up all our fuel reserves to drive their flying saucers
They're also going to empty all the supermarkets, as they need a lot of snacks for their journey back to Outer Space. 👽

Truth. Outer space is a long journey. Won't somebody think of the aliens?

randomchap · Yesterday 01:07

Ratherhaveacupofteaandabiscuit · 25/09/2026 21:09

Me neither.

As far as I know MI5 does not involve Tesco staff in matters of national security.

They do tell Waitrose staff though, just not Tesco, Asda or Morrisons

Mydogisagentleman · Yesterday 04:40

That might explain the queues at the petrol station yesterday.
Im oblivious. I will fill my car at 06.30

pattercare · Yesterday 06:20

I do recall something about Trumps diesel ban because I mentioned to DH that we will probably have to use our little petrol car rather than the diesel one, probably about a week ago and also something about a refinery but I can't remember what.

pattercare · Yesterday 06:24

I started buying bulk loo roll about a year or two before Covid as I realised it was far easier and cheaper to order a large pack off Amazon than haul a pack home from the shops. I was glad when Covid started and I had about 50 rolls already in

Youneedas · Yesterday 06:29

@hubbabubbamomma has achieve perceived what she set out to do. Arguing and sniping

Youneedas · Yesterday 06:29

Mydogisagentleman · Yesterday 04:40

That might explain the queues at the petrol station yesterday.
Im oblivious. I will fill my car at 06.30

Always queues on a Friday before the weekend.

Youneedas · Yesterday 06:30

randomchap · Yesterday 01:07

They do tell Waitrose staff though, just not Tesco, Asda or Morrisons

How the flippin’ heck do you know that @randomchap ? 😆

HoraceCope · Yesterday 06:34

i think most people must be aware of the need to prepare
it has been on the news for weeks
i agree that it is probably pay day for many people next week
hence more shopping being down

pattercare · Yesterday 06:35

If a fuel station is slightly cheaper it will have large queues, this is more noticeable now as the difference is bigger so Tesco, Asda, etc garages will be busy

CandidHedgehog · Yesterday 06:38

Redpaisley · 25/09/2026 23:29

What government advice?

https://prepare.campaign.gov.uk/get-prepared-for-emergencies/

Bottom of the page. Also there have been lots of articles in different newspapers bringing the advice to people’s attention and quoting various qualified sounding people as saying it’s sensible to follow the advice.

It might be the papers jumping on the bandwagon or it might be the government having a quiet word. Who knows.

Get prepared for emergencies - Prepare

How to get informed and put a plan in place to prepare if an emergency comes to you in your area.

https://prepare.campaign.gov.uk/get-prepared-for-emergencies

HoraceCope · Yesterday 06:41

price cap for oil goes up next week by 4%

changeme4this · Yesterday 06:51

I’m in the southern hemisphere and what’s popping up on my newsfeed is the EU, UK and a European country that I can’t remember (maybe Norway) all advising their citizens to stock up on supplies.

the longest term I saw was 6 months but that wasn’t an official source either, just social media saying….

where I live our fuel prices have shot up to the highest I’ve seen them. Yet ours comes via Singapore..

HoraceCope · Yesterday 07:30

i am doing my panic buying today
however my family just eat their way through it

WhitegreeNcandle · Yesterday 07:40

Pearlyb · Yesterday 00:34

Oh my lord. El niño is not something that will "happen next week", it's a slow phenomenon and the impacts take many months to filter through. Also the direct impact on the UK won't be that severe - yes your coffee and chokkies probably go up in price, but in here there's no need to start stockpiling water, tins, batteries or bog roll because of it.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/impacts-of-el-nino-on-the-uk/impacts-of-el-nino-on-the-uk

It’s happening now. Farmers have just had the crappest summer ever. Yields are down. Costs are rocketing. Fertiliser is through the roof. Not just British farmers either. We are already a few months into this - it’s going to start feeding through soon.

Binnyforthewin · Yesterday 07:49

If you're planning to panic buy but can wait until next week is it really "panic" buying or just buying?

NotAnotherScarf · Yesterday 07:49

Ratherhaveacupofteaandabiscuit · 25/09/2026 21:09

Me neither.

As far as I know MI5 does not involve Tesco staff in matters of national security.

"Ahh Mr Bond, thanks for visiting. Do you think we should put the price of hobnobs up this week given the fact you have to recover that stolen missile from the bloke with the weird accent who lives on a secret island thats ridiculously easy to find?"

Clearly the op lives in his mums basement...in Moscow

somekindofdoughnut · Yesterday 07:50

BillyDidIt · 25/09/2026 22:03

It'll be all the parents having to take tins to school for harvest festival! 😂

Best theory yet.

TheNoonBell · Yesterday 07:55

This is about the US potentially banning diesel exports for 90 days ahead of the mid terms. As we now import about 55% of diesel and about a third of that comes from the US it would mean quite a price hike and potential shortages.

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/talk-us-export-ban-diesel-deepens-us-crude-futures-discount-global-benchmark-2026-09-25/

pokewomans · Yesterday 07:58

Well the papers has said fuel prices are going up so people will fill up

Crunchymum · Yesterday 07:59

Who has told you this @hubbabubbamomma ?

Has it come an "official source" or is this just gossip and hearsay?

pokewomans · Yesterday 08:00

Binnyforthewin · Yesterday 07:49

If you're planning to panic buy but can wait until next week is it really "panic" buying or just buying?

I thought panic buying was reacting to the news & shopping, according to the preppers who always overbuy?