# Should we be stocking up? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 5, 2026, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820 "2026-05-05T22:27:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820/1 "2026-05-05T22:27:04Z")
Given events in and around the Strait of Hormuz, I’ve seen multiple predictions that (a) this isn’t going to get resolved soon, so that (b) deliveries of oil, fertilizer, and helium (to name three commodities that move through there) are and will be dropping dramatically, leading (c) to price hikes rippling therough the economy far beyond what we’re already seeing at the gas pump. Given that, I’ve begun to stock up on consumables (cat food and litter) that will very likely be getting more expensive, especially since their weight will make them more costly just to deliver, never mind how their production is affected. Are you beginning to lay in shelf-stable supplies in anticipation of coming economic shocks? ETA: I’d already bought a variety of freeze-dried vegetables, chopped and ready for slow cookery, even before the start of this war. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820/2 "2026-05-05T22:54:26Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Are you beginning to lay in shelf-stable supplies in anticipation of coming economic shocks? No (I did fill up the car be4 prices jumped up, and a full tank of gas lasts me 4-6 months in my ecobox) ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820/3 "2026-05-05T23:07:21Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Are you beginning to lay in shelf-stable supplies in anticipation of coming economic shocks? Not in the slightest. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820/4 "2026-05-05T23:09:46Z")
I keep stocked up. It’s an ongoing process, always. Too many mouths to feed. Grocery desert. Long drives to get things. Don’t really worry about gas so much. I’ll need enough to get to dialysis. If I can’t get there. I die. So be it. But yeah, what we can hoard, we do. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820/5 "2026-05-05T23:12:52Z")
Not yet. Until I see shortages or dramatic price hikes in the offing I’m keeping my shopping normal at this point. If I could somehow stock up on gas I would have done that weeks ago. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820/6 "2026-05-05T23:18:53Z")
I vaugely remember we were all supposed to stock up last year for some reason that never passed. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820/7 "2026-05-05T23:34:50Z")
I am still s\*\*\*\*\*\*\* my way through the toilet paper pile from 2020ies covid. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820/8 "2026-05-05T23:37:15Z")
Oh, well, if my stocking up proves to be unnecessary, the cats will still be happy to help me get through it. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820/9 "2026-05-06T00:02:01Z")
I’m loading up on helium. ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820/10 "2026-05-06T00:08:36Z")
lol, right?! What does a shortage of helium have to do with consumables and OP’s price concerns ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820/11 "2026-05-06T00:08:38Z")
… Darren said in a high-pitched voice. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820/12 "2026-05-06T00:10:37Z")
Seriously, if a non-perishable item is on sale at the supermarket, I might get more than I usually do. But that’s hardly stocking up in anticipation of higher prices or shortages. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820/13 "2026-05-06T00:34:05Z")
> [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](#): > > What does a shortage of helium have to do with consumables and OP’s price concerns > **[Why helium is essential to the future of semiconductor manufacturing](https://www.innovationnewsnetwork.com/why-helium-is-essential-to-the-future-of-semiconductor-manufacturing/64493/)** > > Explore how helium plays a critical role in semiconductor manufacturing, influencing both the quality and efficiency of chip production. So, you say, you aren’t planning to buy a new computer any time soon? But chips are vital ingredients in all sorts of electronic systems that permeate society. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820/14 "2026-05-06T01:13:50Z")
I’m expecting high prices, but I’m not expecting significant shortages. I also keep some “stock” on hand, but no, I’m not sticking up. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820/15 "2026-05-06T01:15:55Z")
I’m stocking up (modestly) now not so much fearing shortages as expecting price hikes. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820/16 "2026-05-06T01:22:05Z")
How big an anticipated price hike would justify hoarding at this point? What’s the sweet spot of store emptiness that justifies panic buying that’s not dangerously close to riot level? I have no idea how to answer any question of this kind. Thus I’m not doing any unusual buying. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820/17 "2026-05-06T01:57:21Z")
Earlier today, I found a 5-pound bag of King Arthur bread flour that had been opened and then taped shut for $1. I was NOT going to pass that up, that’s for sure. That’s the way I personally stock up - when I find a bargain of something I know I will use. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820/18 "2026-05-06T02:04:19Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > I’m stocking up (modestly) now not so much fearing shortages as expecting price hikes. I see you recently stocked up on … … cats ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820/19 "2026-05-06T02:09:34Z")
I’m glad you’re not holding people up in dark alleys @puzzlegal. 😀 I have always put back things. Canning, freezing from the garden have always been a part of this household. When we buy things we always buy several. Just in case. My daughter brought home a case of Rotel tomatoes today. 'Cause there was a deal. Paper products are not that important. But I do have that almost full case of John Wayne TP in garage. Bought well before COVID but roundly hated by all, so still available. Yeah baby!! ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820/20 "2026-05-06T02:12:20Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > How big an anticipated price hike would justify hoarding at this point? What’s the sweet spot of store emptiness that justifies panic buying that’s not dangerously close to riot level? > > I have no idea how to answer any question of this kind. Thus I’m not doing any unusual buying. well, in an inflationary scenario (like the OP proposes), it DOES make economic sense to “anticipate” purchases … (and of course, anticipating purchases, will fan inflation, so there is a positive feedback loop) I know from friends in Argentine who - at the height of the inflation crisis - purchased the daily bread in the morning, as it was then cheaper than in the evening of the same day, when coming home from work. For the same reason, stagflation is so feared by economists, as the opposite is true. “_nah … I´'ll wait with the purchase until tomorrow, prices are constantly coming down_” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-stocking-up/1029820.md?page=2)