UK retailers report dramatic surge in sales after government stockpiling alert
Electronics retailer Maplin reported torch sales up 284%, radios up 92%, and power banks up 106% after the government called for stockpiling.
UK shops reported big sales jumps after the government urged people to stock up for possible cyber attacks or bad weather. Electronics shop Maplin saw torch sales jump 284%, with radios up 92% and power banks up 106%.
Supermarket Iceland reported a 40% jump in tinned food sales over the weekend. Robert Dyas saw radio sales jump 160% compared with the week before.
The government advice was to keep three litres of water per person daily, tinned food, battery torches, radios, and phone chargers at home. The sales figures show shoppers took the government alert seriously, with some online shops reporting ten times their usual orders.
- 284% at Maplin
- Torch sales spike
- 40% at Iceland
- Tinned food increase
- 160% at Robert Dyas
- Radio sales jump
- 22 October
- Alert date
Why it mattersShows how fast government warnings can change what people buy and reveals fear about possible emergencies.
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