[MikeK]

Our local Sam's has been keeping less inventory for a while now. They regularly run out of things like rice, beans, pasta, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, etc. I'd like to think that more people are prepping, but I don't know. I'm more likely to think Sam's is just running a finer line on their inventory.

 

[MikeK]

The last time I bought rice at Sams I asked a lady if they sold alot of these big 50lb bags and she said yes like crazy for some reason

My city is about 99% Mexican, so beans and rice are huge movers here. That's why I don't normally think much of it when they're out. As fast as they sell here, I don't know if the cashiers here would even notice an increase in sales. Let them run out of tortillas and it would be instant rioting! :

 

[MikeK]

They wouldn't reduce inventory on things that sell big, just on things that don't. It looks promising, that people are finally stocking up.
There has been a lot written and on TV programs, etc, about prepping, and there's also growing bad news everywhere and restlessness and anger. People arn't that dumb they can't see trouble coming.
I think people are stocking up.

They've reduced inventory on pretty much everything. They stock what they figure they'll need. Sometimes they get a buying spree that they don't count on though and they run out of something. They've been doing that for a while now. But they always have it back in stock in a day or two. Walmart is getting bad at it too.