Fox Business Flash top headlines for November 20

Fox Business Flash top headlines are here. Check out what’s clicking on FoxBusiness.com.

LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK - Toilet paper aisles are emptying again as COVID-19 curfews and shutdowns in states from California to New York send pandemic-weary shoppers on a new scramble for essentials.

Continue Reading Below

Walmart on Friday said it was “seeing pockets of lower than normal availability” for toilet paper and cleaning supplies in some communities as infections rage virtually unchecked across most of the United States.

As of Friday afternoon, 22 states have imposed restrictions aimed at decreasing spread of the virus – giving rise to a new round of panic buying from shoppers and purchase limits from retailers including Target and Kroger, the nation’s largest supermarket chain.

TickerSecurityLastChangeChange %
WMTWALMART INC.150.24-1.88-1.24%
TGTTARGET CORP.172.31+0.94+0.55%
KRKROGER32.44-0.32-0.98%
COSTCOSTCO WHOLESALE CORPORATION381.12-2.42-0.63%
PGPROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY139.30-0.23-0.16%

Shelves in the paper towel and toilet paper section are depleted at a Meijer Store in Carmel, Ind., Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

SOME WALMART STORES SEE SHORTAGES OF TOILET PAPER, CLEANING SUPPLIES, EXECUTIVES SAY

At a Costco in Vancouver, Washington – where new rules include temporary bans on indoor dining – out-of-stocks included toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning wipes, gloves and Spam canned meat.

And the toilet paper hunt is on again in California, where the governor on Thursday ordered a curfew placed on all indoor social gatherings and non-essential activities outside the home across most of the state.

Shelves in the toilet paper aisle at a Target store are empty in Vernon Hills, Ill., Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

US RETAIL SALES MISS EXPECTATIONS IN OCTOBER

Shoppers said toilet paper was sold out at Costco stores in Fresno and Los Angeles.

In San Diego, internet marketer Melin Isa took note of renewed shortages during a recent ice cream run to her local Vons. “The TP aisle is bare. Big jugs of milk mostly gone. Lots of ice cream,” Isa said.

Charmin maker Procter & Gamble, the No. 1 U.S. toilet paper seller, said it is running plants 24/7 to meet demand.

Shelves that usually are stocked with toilet paper and paper towels are empty at a Walmart in Cranberry Township, Pa, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

Over the last several months, retailers have had to make major, costly changes to their supply chains to meet unexpected surges in demand.

In a response to a tweet complaining about sold out toilet paper and paper towels, Walmart’s Sam’s Club said, “We’re working to replenish these items as fast as humanly possible.”

Source: Read Full Article