Panic buying leaves 1 in 3 unable to get what they need

Nearly one in three Australians are going without things they need as fresh coronavirus restrictions spark a second wave of panic buyers.

Nearly a third of Australians are still struggling to find what they need at the supermarket, with a spike in COVID cases and a fresh round of restrictions sparking a new wave of panic buying.

A new survey from Finder shows more than 20 weeks after panic buying first began, many shelves are still barren.

Customers struggled to find toilet paper or tissues in the first two weeks of July, while one in seven were unable to buy hand sanitiser or soap.

About 12 per cent of Aussies are once again experiencing a shortage of dry food, like rice and pasta, and one in 10 have struggled to get fresh food.

The most worrying of these statistics is the 8 per cent who were unable to get the medicine they needed.

Panic buying and stockpiling, combined with a reduction in output due to the coronavirus crisis, are believed to have contributed to the shortages.

“Fears of a second wave of coronavirus spreading across the nation have sparked a fresh round of hoarding, while some items such as hand soap have struggled to restock,” Finder money expert Bessie Hassan said.

“Restrictions are in place for a reason, so be considerate of your fellow Aussies where possible and limit your purchases to only what you need.”

New restrictions have been brought in to limit the purchase of meat in Victoria. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Woolworths brought back national restrictions on toilet paper on July 8 after a surge in purchases. The restrictions were only relaxed this week for states other than Victoria, where

customers are limited to no more than two of a multitude of items, including toilet paper, hand sanitiser, meat, milk and bread.

Coles have also introduced limits on hand sanitiser, face masks and meat. Chief operating officer Matt Swindells told the Today show this week panic buyers were stockpiling differently this time, with meat their main target.

Woolworths managing director Claire Peters told Seven News the chain had not seen stockpiling at the same levels as in March and April.

“Of course it’s a little bit up, but I strongly encourage if we just continue shopping as usual there will be no issues with supply,” she said.