Shopping during a pandemic: The difference between shopping for toilet paper versus hand sanitisers

A few weeks ago, many Singaporeans flocked to the supermarket in droves to stockpile necessities, including toilet paper, prior to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s introduction of “Circuit Breaker” measures.

While items such as toilet paper and hand sanitisers are both considered essential during this period of time, they actually belong to two separate categories in an economic sense.

Specifically, products that experienced an increase in demand (hand sanitisers), versus products that have their demand brought forward (toilet paper).

By understanding such distinctions, it might help us make smarter purchase decisions on our next grocery trip.

So, what is demand brought forward?

Demand brought forward is when buyers purchase a greater volume of items now, when it was originally meant to be purchased in the future.

This means while there is an increase in sales now, future sales volume of the product would be lower, given that consumers have already made their future purchases today.

Examples of such items include toilet paper and non-perishables food items with a long shelf life such as rice, pasta, canned food and instant noodles.

Items which have an increase in demand

There are certain items that are experiencing an increase in demand now, rather than have their demand brought forward.

The clearest example of items that have experience an increase in demand would be face masks and hand sanitisers. These were items that few households previously needed and bought. Today, it’s considered an essential product that most households in Singapore would have.

Put simply, demand for these products have increased. Whether this demand persists in the future is anyone’s guess.

Such phenomenon puts companies in strain to restock, given the unexpected surge in sales due to the crisis. This is evident in the global mask shortage, with companies such as iPhone manufacturer Foxconn switching production to making surgical masks.

Closer to home, local gaming company Razer has also announced plans to set up an automated face mask manufacturing line.

Consumers are likely to also buy less of these products when the pandemic is over. Examples of such items include face masks and hand sanitisers.

Items that are experiencing both demand brought forward and an increase in demand

Items such as laptops, flour and even home workout equipment can be considered as falling under both categories.

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Such items have two types of consumers who are purchasing them: Those who had with future intentions to purchase the products but are buying it early due to the pandemic, as well as those without any initial intentions to purchase these products, but who are buying them now due to the pandemic.

The increase in sales of laptops can be considered as both having an increase in demand, as customers are buying a laptop now for work or school when they didn’t need one previously, and also demand brought forward, where customers who had planned to buy a laptop at the end of the year but who decided to buy it early due to having to stay at home during the circuit breaker period.

Flour is the same, with baking enthusiasts purchasing baking ingredients now to sustain their hobby, while there are also those who are learning baking to pass time during this circuit breaker period.

Make better purchasing decisions

If you had bought items that you would eventually need and use, then it could be said that you are bringing forward your future spending today. So, while you might be spending more today, it’s possible that your future spending (on these items at least) will go down.

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If you are buying items that you typically don’t use and may not actually need after the pandemic has passed, then you are likely spending more than you normally would, and should review your spending to assess if you really need the items that you are buying.

A clear example would be gym equipment. If you originally had planned to build your own home gym, then bringing forward your timeline to have your own gym during this circuit breaker period would make sense, as it would allow you to work out from home.

However, if you have no plans to build your own home gym, then buying tons of workout equipment just for this period is likely to be a poor financial decision, since you would end up with equipment that you no longer need or use after the circuit breaker period is over.

Regardless, hoarding isn’t necessary, especially since Singapore’s food supplies remain secure. While it might make sense to purchase more toilet paper from a personal finance standpoint, it is not socially responsible and deprives those who might really need it.

Stay at home & shop overseas online

Stuck at home during the circuit breaker period? With YouTrip, you can pay for your online shopping and subscriptions in over 150 currencies with no fees and the best exchange rates. YouTrip is free to sign up by downloading the app and you will get your own YouTrip Mastercard for overseas online shopping.

For the latest updates on the coronavirus, visit here.

This article was first published in Dollars and Sense.